BL reported that, with the fuel situation at India’s nuclear power stations worsening, Indian government has offered to look into the feasibility of setting up a nuclear station in Meghalaya, in lieu of getting to mine uranium in the state. According to estimates, mining of uranium in Meghalaya could contribute over 15% of the India’s uranium need in the future.

Government officials said that with Uranium Corporation of India Limited still awaiting the state government’s go ahead to mine uranium in Meghalaya, even though the centre has already given environmental clearance for the project, the union government has decided to try and break the logjam by offering to look into the possibility of setting up of a nuclear reactor in West Khasi Hills district.

Despite the discovery of high quality deposits in the state’s West Khasi Hills region, UCIL has been unable to go ahead with mining due to opposition from some groups, who cited possible health hazards and displacement of people. The mining proposal has often been criticized by various tribal organizations, NGOs and the Khasi Students Union.

The total capacity of the 17 nuclear reactors in India is 4,120 MW electrical at present. Existing nuclear stations recorded a plant load factor of 46.4% in March 2008, mainly as fuel shortages affected generation.

Nuclear energy contributes less than 3% of India’s installed generation capacity currently. India is not well endowed with uranium ore and the short supply of the fuel is becoming the stumbling block for the rapid expansion of nuclear power in the country.