Center ready to build nuclear power project in state if land is available: Manohar Lal

Union Power, Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal on Sunday said the Center is willing to clear the nuclear power plant project for Kerala if sufficient land is made available and described Chimeni in Kasaragod district as a “more favorable” site. this.

Here in Kovalam, after reviewing the power sector and urban affairs, Manohar Lal informed the media persons that 150 acres of land is required for the nuclear power project. When asked about the two possible locations doing the rounds, he chose Chimeni. Chemeni and Athirapilli in Thrissur District.

In Sunday’s meeting, Power Minister K. Krishnankutty had urged the Center to explore the possibility of setting up a thorium-based power plant outside Kerala using the thorium deposits in Kerala’s coastal areas. From this plant, Kerala should be allocated a fair share of electricity as per the state proposal.

In December 2023, top officials of the state power department visited the Bhava Atomic Research Center (BARC), Mumbai, to explore the possibility of using Kerala’s thorium deposits for power generation. Earlier this year, after a meeting between KSEB Chairman and Managing Director and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), discussions on the possibility of setting up a nuclear power plant in Kerala began.

On Sunday, Kerala sought enhanced financial support for Kerala’s ‘CAPEX’ model smart metering program under the Improved Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). According to the state government, Kerala cannot expect a high return on investment associated with the heavy investment required in smart metering as the overall technical and commercial (AT&C) loss is already less than 10%.

Kerala has also sought a single window clearance mechanism for faster approvals in the power sector.

During the meeting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan met Shri Manohar Lal. Tourism State Minister Suresh Gopi, Power Minister K. Krishnakutty, Additional Chief Secretary (Electricity) KR Jyotilal and KSEB CMD Biju Prabhakar were also present.