Centre mum on Kerala's nuclear power plant demand despite repeated requests

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite Kerala's repeated demands for permission to set up a nuclear power plant in Kerala, the Centre has not responded. As production has stopped at the Kayamkulam thermal power plant, the Electricity Board is planning to set up a nuclear power plant there. However, as per indications, the Centre is not in agreement with the establishment of a nuclear power plant in Kerala as it is a densely populated state.

It is estimated that there are two lakh tons of thorium deposits on the coast of Kerala. If it is utilized effectively, it can bring huge financial benefits to the state. It is in view of this that the demand is raised. A thorium-based nuclear power plant is operating in collaboration with the Bhabha Atomic Research Center at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu. A high-level team of officials will meet the BARC chief later this month. Based on this, there is a move to approach the Centre again for approval by adding the report prepared.

Last November, Power Minister K Krishnankutty had requested permission to set up a thorium-based nuclear power plant in a proposal to the Centre. It was also raised in the meeting of state power department heads convened by the Center last month. The demand was also reiterated in the meeting held by Minister Krishnankutty with Union Power Minister RK Singh in Delhi two days ago.

Small stations

Most thorium deposits in Kerala are in the black sands of Chavara.

Kayamkulam NTPC Thermal Power Plant, which had a production capacity of 385 MW, was shut down in 2021. It has 1180 acres of land. The Electricity Board's plan is to use this to set up small thorium nuclear plants. Smaller plants of 30 to 50 MW capacity will reduce the risk of accidents.