New Delhi : The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change convened on Monday to hear from the Department of Atomic Energy and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) on nuclear power generation in the country. The committee discussed strategies to enhance nuclear energy alongside solar power.
Discussions also focused on overcoming uranium supply constraints by utilising India’s thorium reserves and advancing the country towards self-reliance in atomic energy.
Dr Medha Vishram Kulkarni, Chairperson of the committee, described the meeting as very productive. “Discussions focused on nuclear science, specifically atomic energy, covering India’s current work, the number of operational reactors, and future plans. India has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. To address current challenges–such as fuel issues, availability constraints, and high carbon emissions–work is underway on multiple fronts, particularly expanding both solar and nuclear energy capacities,” she stated.
“Discussions included strategies to boost nuclear energy alongside solar power, addressing uranium supply constraints by leveraging India’s thorium reserves, and charting a path toward self-reliance in atomic energy… India is moving towards self-reliance and investing heavily in resources and R&D; today, we all felt immense pride in our scientists and their efforts,” Dr Kulkarni added.
In April this year, India achieved a significant milestone in its nuclear energy programme with the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu, designed and built indigenously, successfully attaining first criticality. This signified the initiation of a sustained nuclear chain reaction.
The PFBR is a 500 MWe reactor constructed by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) at the Kalpakkam Nuclear Complex. With this accomplishment, India has entered the second stage of its three-stage nuclear power programme, a vision initially conceived by Dr Homi Jehangir Bhabha, the architect of India’s nuclear programme.
This milestone holds substantial global importance. Upon full operation, India will become the second country globally, after Russia, to operate a commercial fast breeder reactor.
