New Delhi, Jan 15 || Startups can play an important role in building a self-reliant programme nuclear programme by contributing to technology development, said Dr Anil Kakodkar, former chairman, Atomic Energy Commission on Thursday.
Kakodkar told that the country’s nuclear programme has been built on self-reliance.
Despite technology embargoes in the past, India developed advanced reactor systems indigenously, which are now performing extremely well.
Kakodkar explained that nuclear reactors are large entities. Even a 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plant involves a massive investment. At an approximate cost of Rs 20 crore per megawatt, a 1,000-megawatt plant requires an investment of around Rs 20,000 crore. This scale of investment is clearly beyond what a startup can handle. However, multiple players are needed.
“Startups can still play an important role, for example, by contributing to technology development,” Kakodkar said.
“They can focus on small proof-of-principle systems, such as micro-reactors of around one megawatt capacity. These are needed, but they must be extremely safe.