NTPC aims to put nuclear plant 5 yrs ahead of plans

NTPC Ltd has stepped up its plans to set up a nuclear power plant. The company hopes the 2000-Mw plant, to be set up in South India, will be up and running by 2012, ahead of the projected 2017. Two locations have already been shortlisted.

"We may partner with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India for setting up the plant as it is showing interest. We have shortlisted two possible locations in South India and are evaluating them," a company executive told Business Standard.

He declined to name the two locations. However, sources said NTPC could be looking at Tamil Nadu as a possible location. There is an existing nuclear power generation facility at Kalpakkam near Chennai.

"We are in talks with GE Energy for technology and fuel. We have also been approached by Areva," the executive added.

At present, nuclear power plants are set up only by NPCIL, a PSU under the Department of Atomic Energy.

NTPC had earlier appointed former Atomic Energy Commission Secretary S Rajgopal and former NPCIL executive director V K Kaushik as consultants for its plans.