To cut carbon footprint, NTPC plans 2 nuclear plants

NEW DELHI: State-run NTPC, the country's largest coal-fired power producer, is going nuclear with two projects based on conventional PHWR (pressurised heavy water technology) with a combined capacity of 4,200 MW as the government shifts focus in search of clean energy for achieving 'net zero' emissions target by 2070.

The company on Monday signed a supplementary joint venture agreement with Nuclear Power Corporation Ltd (NPCIL) for the 1,400 MW Chutka atomic power project in Madhya Pradesh and 2,800 MW Mahi Banswara nuclear project in Rajasthan, giving its nuclear plan a definitive shape.

TOI had first reported NTPC's nuclear dream in December last year as the company looked to reshape itself for a low-carbon world with an ambitious plan to add 20-30GW nuclear capacity by 2040. "This is the new thing that you would probably be hearing that we are bringing and are seriously thinking on this," company CMD Gurdeep Singh had said last year.

While the Niti Ayog driven focus on nascent SMR (smaller modular reactor) technology is on the table, the plan clearly is to pursue large capacity reactors with NPCIL and build SMRs with private partners. NTPC had announced its nuclear ambition in 2010 with an MoU with NPCIL.

Since the PHWR technology is nearly indigenised, the tariff from the projects is expected to be around Rs 6-7 per unit, executives said.

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