LS passes Bill to allow NPCIL to have tie-ups with other PSUs

The Lower House of the Parliament, Lok Sabha on Monday passed a bill that will allow state-run NPCIL to have collaboration with other PSUs in the nuclear field even as the government allayed the fears that it will facilitate FDI into the sector or allow participation of a private company in atomic power production.

The Atomic Energy Amendment Bill 2015 proposes to amend the 1962 Atomic Energy Act to change the definition of "government company" in the Act with a view to expand its scope by including such joint venture companies as may be formed between NPCIL and other PSUs, according to the statement of object and reasons.

At present, only two Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) -- Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Bhartiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI), which are under the administrative control of Department of Atomic Energy, operate nuclear power plants in the country. 

Minister of State for PMO Jitendra Singh, who holds the portfolio of atomic energy, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given a lot of importance to atomic energy and whenever he has been on an overseas visit he has inked nuclear energy pacts with foreign countries. "Now the stage has come that we plan how best to expand nuclear programme,” he said.