India has identified 5 to 7 sites for setting up of mega nuclear power plants so that it is able to execute its committed nuclear capacity additions by 2020 and that an official declaration to this effect would be done in a day or two after the Cabinet meets.

Mr Prithviraj Chavan minister of State in PMO said that making this significant disclosure at ASSOCHAM organized Conference on Unleashing the Power of Nuclear Energy, 2 JV agreements have been signed for the manufacture of nuclear power equipment and many more would be signed in due course. One of it is with collaboration with United States of America and the other one is with that of French company.

Mr Chavan said that totally refuting possibilities of 100% FDI’s in nuclear energy, he declared that private players initially will have to enter India’s nuclear power generation in collaboration with centrally regulated nuclear entities like Nuclear Power Corpn India Ltd and BARC with minority stake. This could begin at 25% to 26% and later on at the most it could go up to 49%, until the government amends the Atomic Energy Act 1962.

He said that the central government will put in a strong regulatory mechanism to regulate its nuclear power generation as it would be essential for safeguard measures that the central government completely controls it.

Mr Chavan said that the draft legislation is ready and amendment to this effect would be passed after the Parliament resumes following conclusion of forthcoming Parliamentary elections.

He, however, made it clear that it would be extremely difficult to initiate amendments to Atomic Power Act of 1962, if the present government receives the fractured mandate.

He added that Nuclear Draft Liability Bill is also ready and could be sailed through in the Parliament after the new government is formed. The UPA government has already ensured that it would set up sufficient transmission network to ensure that nuclear energy is transmitted in most efficient manner.

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