Why in the News?
India has shortlisted three old thermal power plant sites for conversion into nuclear power projects as part of its plan to expand civil nuclear capacity and repurpose ageing coal infrastructure.
Key Highlights
- Three old thermal power sites shortlisted:
- Two suitable for 700 MWe reactors
- One suitable for 220 MWe reactors
- Exercise conducted by a sub-committee of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) with:
- Atomic Energy Regulatory Board
- Nuclear Power Corporation of India
Objective
- Repurpose ageing coal-based thermal plants for cleaner nuclear energy generation.
- Support India’s target of expanding nuclear power capacity from:
- 8.8 GWe to 100 GWe by 2047.
Why Old Thermal Sites?
Advantages include:
- Existing land and water availability
- Existing transmission and infrastructure
- Reduction in emissions from old coal plants
- Support for clean energy transition
SHANTI Act, 2025
- Opened parts of the nuclear sector to private participation.
- Allowed private role in operations and fuel management.
Site Selection Criteria
- Water availability
- Land availability
- Seismic safety
- Population density
- Meteorological conditions
- Sites in Seismic Zone V or near active faults were excluded.
What is Exclusion Zone?
- Mandatory safety zone around nuclear reactors where habitation and economic activity are restricted.
- Current Norms: Around 1 km radius for nuclear plants.
- Proposed Changes
- 700 MWe reactors: reduce from 1 km to 700 m
- 220 MWe reactors: reduce to 500 m
- Proposal has received in-principle approval from:
- AERB
- Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
- Officials noted that repurposed thermal sites may be more suitable for:
- Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
- Smaller nuclear projects
| [2013] Which one among the following industries is the maximum consumer of water in India? (a) Engineering (b) Paper and pulp (c) Textiles (d) Thermal power |
