NTPC News Today: State-owned NTPC will appoint a consultant to identify uranium mines overseas after signing a formal agreement with Uranium Corporation
of India Ltd (UCIL). NTPC’s Strategic Move into Nuclear Power The move will be part of the company's plan to secure raw material for its future nuclear projects to be set up on an individual basis, news agency PTI reported citing a company official. Joint Venture with NPCIL in Rajasthan At present, NTPC is setting up a nuclear project in a joint venture (JV) with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) in Rajasthan at an investment of about Rs 42,000 crore. While NTPC has 49 per cent stake in ASHVINI, NPCIL has a majority 51 per cent shareholding. Foundation Stone Laid for Mahi Banswara Project Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday laid the foundation stone of 4x700 MW Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (MBRAPP) being set up by JV entity Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam Ltd (ASHVINI) at Banswara. Plans for Independent Nuclear Projects NTPC CMD Gurdeep Singh recently shared plans of setting up individual nuclear projects. He said his company is collaborating with various nuclear technology providers and state governments to set up projects on its own. Securing Uranium for Nuclear Fuel Uranium, a naturally occurring metallic element, is used as fuel to power nuclear projects. Speaking to PTI, a company official said, "We are in the process of signing the JV agreement Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) for joint techno-commercial due diligence of overseas uranium assets. It has gone for approval to the board. Then we will award contract for consultancy." Consultancy for Uranium Asset Acquisition There will be a consultant who will advise on the locations for the uranium mines, he said, adding that a call will be taken on acquiring these assets accordingly. Parameters like amount of reserves, logistics cost among others will also be evaluated, the official said. Prior Approval for Uranium Collaboration NTPC board had earlier approved a draft MoU (memorandum of understanding) with Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) for joint techno-commercial due diligence of overseas uranium assets. NTPC’s Evolution as a Power Generator Established as a thermal-based power generator in 1975, NTPC Ltd (erstwhile National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd), has been increasing its capacity while diversifying into new modes of energy generation. At present, the country's largest power generator has an installed capacity of 83,863 MW at group-level based on fuel sources like coal, gas/liquid fuel, hydro, and solar, according to the NTPC website. (With agency inputs)
