New Delhi: The government should amend the
Atomic Energy Act to facilitate entry of private firms into
nuclear power generation, industry body Assocham said today.
"Amendments in the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 are
necessary to enable private sector to foray into nuclear power
generation although as many as 40 leading power utilities in
private sector have conclusive plans to diversify into nuclear
power," the chamber said.
Power utilities such as Tatas, JSW, Jaiprakash
Associates, Reliance, GMR and Lanco are ready with their
nuclear energy diversification drive and awaiting the proposed
act to be amended, it said.
In addition, other players like Jindal Power and Torrent
Power are among other power utilities that have also firmed up
their plans to diversify in nuclear energy in cooperation with
state owned companies, it added.
The chamber has urged the power ministry to move a
Cabinet note for seeking government approval to amend 1962
Atomic Energy Act, which prohibits participation of private
sector companies in nuclear power projects.
The current nuclear power generation capacity of the
country stands at 4,120 MW, the government has set an
ambitious target of augmenting this capacity to 20,000 MW by
2020.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 21:11