Is Rant on Nuclear Power Generation in India justified?

India, presently, has the capacity to produce 1,35,000 MW of power out of total installed capacity of 162,366 MW. With expected 9% economic growth, the requirement of power by year 2030 will be 4,50,000 MW. At present, about 70% of the electricity consumed in India is generated by thermal power plants, 21% by hydroelectric power plants and 4% by nuclear power plants, 5% by other renewable energy systems such as Solar, Wind and Biomass.


There is limitation of power production with Coal, which is fast depleting; moreover, in future there may be tax on carbon emission. However, no exploration has been done by any government institution so far as to how much there are deposits of coals in the Coal fields of India.

Also there are problems for expansion of hydro power generation due to opposition by people for setting up Dams at their lands and also from environmentalists. At present India is said to be using only 10% hydro-power out of its total potential, though, no surveys have been done to know total potential of India to generate Hydro-Power.

India intends to produce 20,000 MW Solar power by 2020.

In the world there are 437 Nuclear Reactors, The first large-scale nuclear power plant with 8 MW was set up in Shippingport, Pennsylvania for power supply to Pittsburgh area, US in 1957.

France produces 75% to 80% power by Nuclear Reactors, whereas, US produces only 20% of its requirement through nuclear Reactors. At present India produces only 4000 MW through Nuclear Reactors, only 3% of its total power production.

Up till now only 2 big Nuclear Power plant mishaps has happened in the World; one better known as “The Three Mile Island” accident at Middletown, Pennsylvania, US, in March 28, 1979. Even though it led to no deaths or injuries to plant workers or members of the nearby community, but it brought about sweeping changes involving emergency response planning, reactor operator training, human factors engineering, radiation protection, and many other areas of nuclear power plant operations. Second, in Chernobyl, Kiev, Ukraine in April 26, 1986, a big disaster took place which necessitated the evacuation of 300,000 people from Kiev and 250 people died.

India has only 19 Nuclear Power Reactors. Now India intends to produce 40,000 MW Nuclear Power by year 2035. The Reactors and technologies will be procured from U.S., Russia, France, and Japan. Even though, no mishap has happened in India in its 19 Plants, however, the Safety and security of he plants is paramount. This aspect in mind, parliament passed a Civil Liability Nuclear Liability Bill on 25th August-2010. In case of nuclear mishap, the liability of the suppliers will be 1500 crores as compensation.

The cost of 1000 MW reactor is estimated to be Rs. 9000 Crores. India will set up 40 Nuclear Reactors, with plants having capacity of 1650 MW and 1000 MW power generation. Each reactor will take 5 to 7 Years for completion. The fuel for these power reactors will be Plutonium and Uranium. India has rich deposits of thorium ore, for which research is in progress in India to use this fuel for Nuclear Reactors.