Guarding Against Technological Dependence: India's Nuclear Power Vision

Gurdeep Singh, Chairman of NTPC, emphasizes the importance of avoiding over-dependence on foreign suppliers for nuclear technology as India advances its 100 GW nuclear power plan. He champions prioritizing control over technology even with higher initial costs and urges immediate rule formulation for policy implementation.

India must remain vigilant against over-reliance on foreign suppliers for nuclear technology, insists Gurdeep Singh, Chairman of NTPC. As the country advances its 100 GW nuclear power initiative, Singh underscores the necessity of maintaining control over technology and resources, even if it implies higher initial costs.

His remarks came during a workshop organized by the Central Electricity Authority, where he stressed that legislative intent must be complemented with actionable rules and guidelines for actual investment. According to the workshop minutes, Singh advocated for immediate rule formulation to convert policies into investments.

NTPC has ambitious plans to develop 30 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047. Singh noted that the focus should remain on large reactor sets, rather than Small Modular Reactors. He also emphasized NTPC's current substantial power generation capacity and the new SHANTI Act's role in promoting the nuclear sector.