India on power trip as nuke deal advances

A deal under which the US would share civilian nuclear technology with India has taken a crucial step closer to final approval, but New Delhi is still leaving no stone unturned to ensure nuclear power for its growing economy. The two countries now turn their attention to next month’s G8 meeting as a way of getting international endorsement of the deal without China having a say.

However, regardless of what the US Congress thinks, India is going to make a big push for nuclear energy and reduce reliance on the very expensive fossil fuels. (India imports 70% of its crude-oil requirements.)
There is the fear that the nuclear pact will be delayed because of congressional preoccupation with domestic issues and elections this autumn. While launching an international bid, India is trying to ensure that its own house is in order.

The Indian government has drawn up an ambitious bid to garner 60 million tonnes per annum of equity oil from overseas by 2025 by empowering public-sector oil companies to enter exploration and production business abroad.

Last month, New Delhi announced that plans were being chalked up to double electricity production from nuclear power plants by 2030 with the possibility of international cooperation.

“We are trying to realize the target of 20,000 megawatts and scale it up to 40,000MW by 2030,” said Anil Kakodkar, chairman of the government-controlled Atomic Energy Commission.

At the current level of 3,310MW, nuclear energy constitutes only 3% of the installed capacity in the country.

Asia Times