Author: Sethuraman NR
Feb 4 (Reuters) – India’s Tata Power is looking at potential sites for future nuclear power projects in three states but is waiting for further regulatory clarity before finalizing plans, Chief Executive Praveer Sinha said on Wednesday.
India’s parliament in December approved a landmark atomic energy bill allowing private and foreign companies to enter the nuclear power sector, as the energy-starved country aims to increase nuclear power capacity tenfold to 100 gigawatts by 2047.
Sinha said the company was considering small reactors, including small modular reactors, but noted capital costs were high and India’s private sector had limited experience.
He said Tata Power was in discussions with the Ministry of Atomic Energy, the Indian Nuclear Power Corporation and various technical partners including foreign companies.
Sinha told the company’s media call after the quarterly results that there were still many regulations and detailed rules to be issued, including those covering licensing conditions, fuel purchase arrangements and approval processes.
He said the company expects the situation to be clearer in six to nine months, after which it will continue to move forward with site-related work such as land acquisition.
Tata Power is yet to finalize the planned capacity of the proposed plant, he added.
Tata Power, meanwhile, expects to easily meet its imported coal needs this year after receiving full production quota at one of its main mines in Indonesia.
Reuters reported on Monday that Indonesian miners have halted spot coal exports after the government proposed deep production cuts.
Sinha said the company received its entire quota for this year from the massive Kaltim Prima coal mine, which produces about 50 million tonnes per year.
Tata Power, which holds a 30% stake in the mine, also purchases coal from Australia, South Africa, Mozambique, Kazakhstan and other regions to diversify its supply, the executive said.
(Reporting by Sethuraman NR; Editing by Andrea Ricci)
