Podcast: India's plans for large-scale nuclear energy expansion
India is planning to expand nuclear capacity from 7 GW to 100 GW by 2047, with legislative changes, international partnerships and development of indigenous technology all set to play their part.
Retired diplomat, author and distinguished fellow of the Vivekananda International Foundation - and coordinator of the foundation task force's report on the energy transition in India - Ambassador D.P. Srivastava joins us to discuss developments - and suggests that the 100 GW capacity figure could just be the start. He also says that progress on the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam is set to continue this year after fuel loading, with the technology set to have a key role, given India's large thorium reserves.
The past few weeks have seen Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman's budget speech promising amendments to Indian legislation - the Atomic Energy Act and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act - to encourage private sector participation in nuclear projects, including partnering on the development of the Bharat Small Modular Reactor, a compact 200 MW pressurised heavy water reactor.
Since then, Indian power companies Tata Power and the Naveen Jindal Group have expressed interest in setting up small modular reactors and Vedanta has put out a Global Invitation for an Expression of Interest to build and operate 5000 MWe of nuclear capacity in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also signed cooperation agreements with France's President Macron and US President Donald Trump.
Srivastava says the motivation for new nuclear in India is driven by three factors - economic development, energy security and meeting the country's 2070 net-zero climate goal. He says that public opinion and political opinion is generally favourable to the idea of new nuclear. He also sees export potential in the future.
All these developments helped put nuclear firmly in the mix at India Energy Week in February. World Nuclear Association Director General Sama Bilbao y León was there and she gives her reflections on the event, which included Prime Minister Modi talking about new nuclear. She says it is clear India is serious about international collaborations, and that the country will have an important role for the global nuclear industry in the years ahead.
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Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production
