Nuclear Power in India: Future Energy
Source for Development
“When the agreement goes through, India is expected to generate an additional
25,000 MW of nuclear power by 2020, bringing total estimated nuclear power
generation to 45,000 MW.”
Nuclear power is the fourth-largest source of electricity in India after
thermal, hydro and renewable sources of electricity. As of 2010, India has 19
nuclear power plants in operation generating 4,560 MW while 4 other are under
construction and are expected to generate an additional 2,720 MW. India is also
involved in the development of fusion reactors through its participation in the
ITER project.
Since early 1990s, Russia has been a major source of nuclear fuel to India.
Due to dwindling domestic uranium reserves, electricity generation from nuclear
power in India declined by 12.83% from 2006 to 2008. Following a waiver from the
Nuclear Suppliers Group in September 2008 which allowed it to commence
international nuclear trade, India has signed nuclear deals with several other
countries including France, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Namibia,
Mongolia, Argentina, Kazakhstan In February 2009, India also signed a
$700million deal with Russia for the supply of 2000 tons nuclear fuel.
India now envisages to increase the contribution of nuclear power to overall
electricity generation capacity from4.2%to 9%within 25 years. In 2010, India's
installed nuclear power generation capacity will increase to 6,000 MW. As of
2009, India stands 9th in the world in terms of number of operational nuclear
power reactors and is constructing 9more, including two EPRs being constructed
by France's Areva. Indigenous atomic reactors include TAPS-3, and -4, both of
which are 540MW reactors. India's $717 million fast breeder reactor project is
expected to be operational by 2010.
