Naveen Jindal Group: Naveen Jindal Group has started talks with global nuclear technology companies, taking steps towards developing nuclear power projects in India. The group is exploring technology collaboration with several international companies, including France’s EDF and America’s Westinghouse.
A source with knowledge of the matter said the group is also in discussions with public sector company Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) for future nuclear projects. The objective of the talks is to evaluate the possibilities of acquiring the technology of Large Modular Reactor (LMR) with capacity of 700 MW and above.
Naveen Jindal Group, operating in the steel to port sector, plans to develop about 18 gigawatt nuclear power capacity in various states of the country. An estimated investment of Rs 2 lakh crore will be made on this. This initiative will contribute to the Central Government’s target of achieving 100 GW nuclear power capacity by the year 2047.
The group is assessing potential sites in more than nine states.
These include other states including Gujarat, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. The projects are planned to include large reactors with a capacity of 700 MW or more.
As technology options, the group is considering EDF’s 1,650 MW capacity European Pressurized Reactor (EPR), Westinghouse’s 1,150 MW capacity AP 1000 reactor and NPCIL’s indigenous 700 MW capacity Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) technology, among others.
The Group will select the final technology based on safety standards, scalability, commercial feasibility and long-term operational potential.
Following the legal changes made by the government to promote private participation in the nuclear energy sector, Naveen Jindal Group has become one of the few corporate houses that have announced big investments in the sector.
Jindal Nuclear Power Private Limited, a subsidiary of Naveen Jindal Group, is taking this plan forward. Apart from this, companies like Tata Power and NTPC are also working on plans to develop nuclear power projects in the country by the year 2047.
