Lok Sabha Question No. 638 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-06
Subject: Nuclear Power Generation
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: BALASUBRAMANIAM SENGUTTUVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 638 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2019

## NUCLEAR POWER GENERATION

## 638. SHRI B. SENGUTTUVAN:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Ministry intends to increase the nuclear power generation from its installed capacity of 6780 MW to 63 GW and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  there  is  any  proposal  with  the  Ministry  to  make  the  Railways  and other  Public  Sector  Undertakings,  such  as  ONGC,  IOCL  and  NTPC  etc.  to jointly fund the country's nuclear energy expansion programme and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Nuclear  Power  Corporation  of  India  Limited  is  engaged  in negotiation  with  these  said  PSUs  to  float  joint  ventures  to  set  up  nuclear power plants across the country; and
- (d) whether  the  Atomic  Energy  Act  allows  the  NPCL  to  collaborate  with  Indian PSUs and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The Government  in its submission of Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) has stated that efforts are being made to achieve 63 GW installed capacity by the year 2032, if supply of fuel is ensured.
- (b)&(c)Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), Public Sector Undertaking under Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has entered into Joint Ventures (JV) with NTPC Limited and Indian Oil Corporation Limited and the JV  companies,  Anushakti  Vidhyut  Nigam  Limited  and  NPCIL-Indian  Oil Nuclear Energy Corporation Limited respectively have been incorporated. The discussions  on  possible  projects  to  be  set  up  by  the  JV  companies  are  in progress, which will be taken up on agreement between the JV partners and accord  of  approval  by  the  Government.  An  exploratory  discussion  was  also held  with  Oil  &  Natural  Gas  Corporation  (ONGC)  in  this  regard.  The  Indian Railways  had  conveyed  that  they  were  not  contemplating  entering  into  an MoU for setting up of nuclear power plants.

- (d) Yes, Sir.  The Government has amended the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 in the year  2015  to  facilitate  establishment  of  Joint  Venture  Companies  (JVC)  by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) with other Central Public Sector Undertakings to set up nuclear power plants. The relevant amendment is as follows:

2. In section 2 of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), in sub-section (1), for clause (bb), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:-

'(bb) '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;'.

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