Lok Sabha Question No. 207 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: Nuclear Power Generation
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, SUDHEER GUPTA, BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., T. RADHAKRISHNAN, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, JAYADEV GALLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 207

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.11.2016

## JOINT VENTURES WITH PSUs

207. DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD: SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA: SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO: SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR: SHRI S. R. VIJAYAKUMAR: SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN: KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH: SHRI JAYADEV GALLA:

## Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) has set any targets to increase nuclear power generation in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has also amended Atomic Energy Act with a view to allow the NPCIL to collaborate with Indian Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs);
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the aims and objectives behind this move;
- (d) whether the NPCIL has requested the cash rich public sector undertakings in energy sector and the national transporter to float joint ventures for setting up nuclear power plants across the country; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the response of the PSUs thereto?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (Dr. JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a) Yes, Sir.   NPCIL has set a target to increase nuclear power generation capacity in the  country.  The  present  nuclear  power  capacity  in  the  country  is  5780  MW.  The target set for the near term is 9580 MW which includes:

| Project                         | Capacity (MW)   | Status                                                                                          |
|---------------------------------|-----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| KKNPP-2, Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu | 1 X 1000        | Presently, generating infirm (non-commercial) power. Commercial operation expected by year end. |
| KAPP-3&4, Kakrapar, Gujarat     | 2 X 700         | Under Construction, expected completion by 2019                                                 |
| RAPP-7&8, Rawatbhata, Rajasthan | 2 X 700         | Under Construction, expected completion by 2019                                                 |

The mid-term target aims to reach a capacity of about 13000 MW by the year 2024. This includes:

| Project                           | Capacity (MW)   | Status                                    |
|-----------------------------------|-----------------|-------------------------------------------|
| GHAVP-1&2, Gorakhpur, Haryana     | 2 X 700         | Sanction accorded and work has commenced. |
| KKNPP-3&4, Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu | 2 X 1000        | Sanction accorded and work has commenced. |

More  projects  based  on  both  indigenous  technologies  and  with  foreign  technical cooperation are planned in future to enhance the nuclear power capacity in the long term.

- (b) Yes, Sir.
- (c) The Atomic Energy Act 1962 empowers the Government to produce, develop, use and dispose of atomic energy either by itself or through any authority or Corporation established by it or a Government company. A 'Government company' was earlier defined as a Company in which not less than fifty-one per cent of the paid-up share capital  is  held  by  the  Central  Government.  The  Amendment  2015  to  the  Atomic Energy Act  has amended the   definition of 'Government Company' as

'Government company' means a company in which-

- (i)  not  less  than  fifty-one  per  cent.  of  the  paid-up  share  capital  is  held  by  the  Central Government; or
- (ii)   the  whole  of  the  paid-up  share  capital  is  held    by  one  or  more  of  the  companies specified  in  sub-clause  (i)  and  which,  by  its  articles  of  association,  empowers  the Central Government to constitute and reconstitute its Board of Directors;'.

The  amendment  in  the  provision  of  the  Atomic  Energy  Act  as  above  will  enable NPCIL  to  form  Joint  Venture  companies  with  other  Public  Sector  Undertakings  of India to set up nuclear power projects, while allowing Central Government to exercise control  over  such  Joint  Venture  companies  in  accordance  with  the  Atomic  Energy Act.

- (d) Yes, Sir.
- (e) Three Joint Venture Companies - Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam Limited (NPCIL-NTPC Ltd.),  NPCIL-Indian  Oil  Nuclear  Energy  Corporation  Limited  (NPCIL-IOCL)  and NPCIL-Nalco  Power  Company  Limited  (NPCIL-  NALCO)  have  been  incorporated. Exploratory discussions have also been held with other Public Sector companies and Indian Railways in this regard.

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