Keralam considers nuclear power option amid worsening electricity shortage

Thiruvananthapuram: Keralam is reconsidering the possibility of establishing a nuclear power plant as the state grapples with an acute electricity shortage and increasing difficulties in securing power from external sources.

The UDF government is planning to consult the leadership of political parties to build consensus before proceeding with the proposal. Power Minister and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunny Joseph said the government would consider setting up a nuclear power plant if political parties reached an agreement on the issue.

Joseph said the government intended to consult all stakeholders before taking a final decision. He pointed to the state’s growing power deficit and the challenges involved in securing emergency electricity contracts, saying Keralam needed to examine every available option, The New Indian Express reported.

Proposals for nuclear power projects have been raised in Keralam in the past but were not pursued due to political opposition and resistance from social and environmental groups. The state’s limited ability to procure electricity from other states and agencies, along with climate change and reduced monsoon rainfall, has renewed the need to explore alternative sources of power.

Joseph said schemes introduced by the Union government would require states hosting nuclear power plants to receive priority if they sought additional electricity generated by those facilities. He warned that the policy could affect Keralam’s ability to obtain power from nuclear plants such as Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu and from other states.

Government sources said the administration intended to examine the advantages and disadvantages of establishing a nuclear facility rather than reaching a decision prematurely.

The possibility of setting up a nuclear power plant at Cheemeni in Kasaragod had previously gained momentum within government circles. However, following protests, the government indicated that it would not proceed with the project.

Meanwhile, Joseph held discussions with Karnataka Power Minister K J George on Sunday regarding electricity procurement from the neighbouring state. Karnataka has reportedly been supplying surplus power to the national grid at an average rate of ₹10 per unit during peak evening hours. However, the state has also asked Keralam to purchase electricity during non-peak hours at the same rate, a proposal that government officials consider financially unviable.