Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The government has sanctioned Rs 13,355 crore as equity for six nuclear power projects currently under construction over the past five years, with the entire amount released so far fully utilised, the Ministry of Atomic Energy informed the Rajya Sabha. Minister of State for Atomic Energy Dr Jitendra Singh, in a written reply, said the six projects, once progressively commissioned, will add a cumulative 8,000 MW of nuclear power capacity to the national grid.
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The government, however, acknowledged that several nuclear projects have faced delays in construction and commissioning in recent years. The reasons include extensive design changes following the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, delays in the supply of critical equipment and disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Other challenges cited by the government include delays in supplies from Russia for the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP), financial and cash-flow problems faced by contractors after the pandemic, difficult soil conditions at the Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (GHAVP) site and a shortage of skilled manpower.
The government also flagged the impact of ongoing geopolitical conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war and the US-Israel-Iran conflict, on project execution and supply chains.
GOVT STEPS UP MONITORING TO PREVENT FURTHER DELAYS
To address these challenges and ensure timely completion, the government said the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) are conducting periodic reviews and closely monitoring project progress.
Measures include identifying constraints early, making mid-course corrections, holding frequent meetings with vendors and contractors, resolving execution-related issues and re-sequencing construction activities wherever possible.
The government has also delegated greater powers to NPCIL executives and constituted a Board sub-committee to monitor project implementation.
In addition, bulk ordering of long-delivery equipment has been adopted for reactors being implemented under the fleet-mode approach. Several critical items are already under manufacturing or being progressively delivered to ensure timely availability of long-lead equipment for future projects.
The government said these measures are aimed at reducing supply-related delays and ensuring that upcoming nuclear reactors are completed within their targeted timelines.
With 8,000 MW of additional capacity expected from the six projects under construction, the government said their commissioning would provide a significant boost to India’s nuclear power capacity and its clean-energy objectives.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
