Tata's Nuclear Power Ambitions

India is pushing private sector participation in building smaller nuclear plants to meet green targets.

- NEVIN JOHN

AS INDIA LOOKS to end public sector control of nuclear power generation, Tata Group is likely to be among the first private sector players to enter the business. Group chairman N. Chandrasekaran said at the recent Tata Power annual general meeting that the company is exploring participation in “small modular nuclear reactors (SMNRs) once the government gives necessary permissions.”

Centre plans to invite companies to invest about $26 billion in the sector to reduce carbon emissions. The country had just about eight gigawatt (GW) nuclear capacity in March 2024. Thermal was 243 GW and renewable 144 GW. Hydro capacity has been stagnant at 47 GW for years now.

The efforts are part of a global trend towards greater acceptance of nuclear energy to meet emission goals. Nuclear energy was shunned the worldover due to safety concerns after the Fukushima nuclear plant explosion in 2011.