Nuclear reactor close to Delhi among 9 new ones by 2024: Govt to RS

NEW DELHI: India will have nine new nuclear power reactors by 2024 and a new nuclear project, the first in northern India, will come up 150km away from New Delhi in the Gorakhpur area of Haryana, the government told Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
In addition, 12 more nuclear reactors with a capacity for 9000 MW have been accorded administrative approval and financial sanction, minister of state in the PMO Jitendra Singh said.
On progressive completion of the projects, the present nuclear power capacity of 6780 MW will increase to 22480 MW by 2031.
Replying in the Question Hour, Singh said nuclear energy would soon emerge as one of the most important sources of alternative or clean energy for the increasing power demand in the country.
Asked whether the government is thinking of phasing out nuclear power plants on account of safety, the minister said, “We have not only increased the number but are also trying to make a pan-India generation project”.
As far as the cost is concerned, Singh said it comes to about Rs 3 per unit on an average. But in the times to come, the cost would reduce with more plants, he said.