Following Fukushima, India Slows Nuclear Development

Resource-poor India proposes to increase its nuclear electrical power capacity to 63,000 megawatts by 2032.

In the wake of Japan's March Fukushima catastrophe New Delhi is reviewing its plans. Across the board, the Indian government has been reviewing and modifying proposals as well as upgrading emergency preparedness and safety applications for existing and proposed nuclear power plants.

One project impacted by delays has been the signing of the final works contract between India's Nuclear Power Corp. and France's Areva, for the supply of two 1,650 megawatt at Jaitapur in Maharashtra. While contracts were originally expected to be exchanged this month, the date has now been pushed back to September at the earliest, the Business Standard reported.

NPC chairman and managing director S. K. Jain told the journal, "There will be add-on in the design for Jaitapur on emergency preparedness and safety applications, following reports from international agencies and also by a committee formed by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board."

By. Charles Kennedy, Deputy Editor OilPrice.com