Only nuclear and solar power can sate India’s massive energy appetite

Also needed for India to become an economic power.

Former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Dr Anil Kakodkar said that if India is to emerge as an economic power, per capita electricity production has to be brought on par with that in the advanced countries.

"Today the scenario is such that compared to advanced countries we are 14-15 times behind. The average per capita electricity production in an industrially advanced nation is at around 10,000 units, whereas in India it is at around 800 units per person," Kakodkar noted.

He said India has to reach 5,000 units per person. If power has to be supplied on such a magnitude on a sustainable basis, then nuclear and solar are the only two sources to meet the requirement. No other sources can do it, he said.

The Planning Commission has set a target of adding over 88,000 MW of power generation capacity in the 12th Five Year Plan period (2012-2017).