Atomic Energy Bill 2015

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has introduced in Lok Sabha, the “Atomic Energy (Amendment) Bill, 2015” which seeks to amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1962, in order to overcome difficulties encountered in the setting up of new nuclear projects and enhancement of nuclear power generation.

Nuclear power operations are being carried out by only two PSUs namely Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam (BHAVINI), both of which are under the administrative control of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). Formation of joint-venture companies by NPCIL with other PSUs of India for civil nuclear power project has been under the consideration of the government but it requires additional funding.

However, as per the existing norms this is not feasible because the expression “government company” as defined in the existing Act means a company in which, not less than 51% of the paid-up share capital is held by the Union Government, which in other words, precludes a government company from entering into a joint-venture with another PSU.

The Bill introduced today seeks to overcome this hassle. The Bill also proposes to make a consequential amendment in Section 14 of the said Act to enable the Centrr to issue licence to such joint-venture companies to set up nuclear power plants. The Bill provides for cancellation of licence in case the licensee ceases to be a government company.

The Integrated Energy Policy in 2006 had projected a target of 63,000W of nuclear energy by 2032. India currently has an installed capacity of 5,780 mw of nuclear power, including the 1,000 MW of electricity being generated by recently-inducted Unit-I at Kudankulam.

The government has drastically cut the nuclear energy target from 63,000 MWE by 2032 to just about 14,500 MWE by 2024. There are 21 nuclear power reactors with an installed capacity of 5,780 MW currently. Of this, a capacity of 3380 MW, comprising thirteen (13) reactors, uses imported fuel.