No private players in nuclear power sector: Chavan

Keeping in abeyance suggestions of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council, government today said it has no intention to allow private sector to set up nuclear power plants independently.

Keeping in abeyance suggestions of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council, government ton Friday said it has no intention to allow private sector to set up nuclear power plants independently.

HT Image

"At this stage, government does not intend to change the related provision of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 for private participation in setting up of nuclear power plants," Minister of State in PMO Prithviraj Chavan told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

He said the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, permits private participation in setting up of nuclear power plants as a minor partner of a government company.

"The entry of private entities as minor partner in this activity will enable them to learn complexities of nuclear technologies, quality and safety culture and a long-term commitment which extends up to the entire life time of power plants," Chavan said.

The PMEAC in its 'Economic Outlook for 2009-10' had underlined the need to diversify the country's fuel sources and develop more natural gas and nuclear energy based power plants as opposed to the coal-based capacities.

It had also suggested that government bring legislative changes to allow the entry of private companies into the business of nuclear power generation within an appropriate regulatory framework.