Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said the country aims to expand nuclear energy generation capacity to more than 62000 mega watt by 2032 with additional safety features and proliferation resistant technologies.
Singh was addressing the audience on nuclear weapon free world at Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) in New Delhi.
“We are targeting an expansion of our nuclear energy generation capacity to more than 62000 mega watt by 2032. This is based on the three stage nuclear programme, which makes use of a closed fuel cycle, in which additional safety features and proliferation resistant technologies have been incorporated,” he said.
The Prime Minister also said that there is no theme more important or for that matter politically more challenging to determine country’s international security.
“The threat of a global nuclear war may have diminished but threats pertaining to nuclear terrorism have assumed a greater profile. This has lead to more and more questions being raised about role and utility of nuclear weapons,” added Singh.
Stressing on the need of reducing the importance of nuclear weapons, Prime Minister also said that it would require a combined effort by many nations.
He further added that the very first resolution of the first session of the United Nations General Assembly dealt with the issue of nuclear technology and the need to harness it for peaceful applications.
“Our nuclear doctrine lays emphasis on a credible minimum deterrent and a ‘No-first use’ (NFU) policy. Most importantly, the doctrine reiterates India’s continued commitment to the goal of the nuclear weapon free world,” added Singh.
NFU refers to a pledge taken by a nuclear power not to use nuke weapons as a means of war unless challenged by an adversary using nuclear weapons.
In 2010, India signalled a shift from “no-first use” to “no-first use against non- nuclear weapon state”. (ANI)