At present, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is the sole agency producing electricity from nuclear power in the country. However, another company, Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) is also authorised to generate electricity from nuclear power.
The Government has brought about amendments in the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 to enable Joint Ventures (JVs) of NPCIL & Public Sector companies to set up nuclear power projects. The main objective of enabling the JVs is to achieve expansion of nuclear power capacity in the country. So far, three joint venture companies – Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam Limited (NPCIL-NTPC Ltd.), NPCIL-Indian Oil Nuclear Energy Corporation Limited (NPCIL-IOCL) and NPCIL-Nalco Power Company Limited (NPCIL- NALCO) have been incorporated. Exploratory discussions have also been held with other Public Sector companies and Indian Railways in this regard.
The quantity of electricity produced in the year 2015-16 was 37456 Million Units (MUs) and has been 25803 MUs during the current financial year (2016-17) upto November 2016, including 425 MUs of infirm (non-commercial) power from Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP – Unit 2). In the last ten years, share of NPCIL’s generation was around 3% of the total electricity generation in the country.