Date:08/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/08/stories/2008080856651400.htm

National

Nuclear energy is the need of the hour, says Jairam Ramesh

Sujay Mehdudia

“We can produce 20,000 MWe by 2020 if deal goes through”

Reviews Chandrapura project work
A branch office of Damodar Valley Corporation will be opened in Ranchi

NEW DELHI: Once the nuclear deal gets through, India will be in a position to produce 20,000 MWe by 2020, according to Minister of State for Power Jairam Ramesh.

“At present, nuclear plants in the country are operating at 48 per cent of their capacity following uranium shortage. This has an effect on the power availability. Nuclear energy is the need of the hour and we must tap it along with thermal, hydro and non-renewable sources,” Mr. Ramesh said here on Wednesday.

He announced that a branch office of the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) would be opened soon in Ranchi.

Delayed

Mr. Ramesh said the public sector unit had decided to set up two units at its Chandrapura power plant in Jharkhand, which would produce 500 MW by 2009.

The project would cost Rs. 2,000 crore.

Mr. Jairam said he had reviewed the progress of work at the 2 x 250 MW Chandrapura project. The project was delayed by over 15 months.

Now, the commercial operation of the first unit would be in mid-February 2009 and of the second unit by April 2009.

He said the DVC would set up an ITI at its 2 x 500 MW Koderma project site in Jharkhand. Over the next four years the DVC would commission a number of projects in Jharkhand.