“Strengthening the nuclear energy sector was crucial to ensure energy security of the nation. Nuclear energy was the cleanest and cheapest of all energy sources,” said Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office V. Narayanasamy.
He was delivering the valedictory address of a seminar on ‘Energy Security of India _ Future Challenges’ organised by Kalaivani College of Technology, Madukkarai, on Monday. Referring to the problem of electricity shortage experienced in many areas of the State including Coimbatore, he said that the Government was investing more on technological upgradation in energy transmission as 19 per cent of energy was lost during transmission.
The Minister said that the Government placed high priority to the safety concerns of people while constructing nuclear power plants. “The Government’s focus is to reduce the cost of energy production to make it available to people at affordable prices. The electricity generated at Kalpakkam Power plant is given to the State government at a cost of Rs. 1.85 per unit while solar, wind, hydel and coal-based sources of power production cost between Rs.3 – 12. Environmental issues also need to be taken into consideration.”
Mr. Narayanasamy added that the emphasis was given on research and development in solar energy production which now required 70-80 acres of land to produce 100 mega watts of energy.
The Minister explained the government’s initiative for nuclear energy production with the support of countries such as the U.S., Russia and France. Mr. Narayanasamy also said that public private partnership in sectors like gas-based power plants would help meet the increasing energy requirements of the nation.
Stating that the Government planned to achieve 8.2 per cent Gross Domestic Product during the 12th Five Year Plan, he said that strengthening of the energy sector would boost the economy of the nation which would be in need of more skilled human resource. Hence, it was important to increase the number of educational institutions in the country. Member of Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission S. Nakulsamy inaugurated the seminar. Secretary of the college K. Kumarasamy, Principal R. Krishnasamy, and Correspondent C.K. Sundaram were present.
