New Delhi: Distancing itself from decades of long opposition to nuclear power and its weaponization, Kerala's CPM-led LDF Government made an unusual move on Friday by announcing its intention to establish a nuclear power facility in Kayamkulam, Alappuzha. 

Utilizing Kerala's abundant thorium deposits, Kerala Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty has proposed setting up a nuclear power plant on the National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. (NTPCL) land at Kayamkulam. The government aims to tap nuclear energy to overcome the ever-increasing electricity demand in the state. 

The success of the 32 MW Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS), located at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu served as an inspiration for the state to table a proposal before the Union Government.

A high-level delegation of Kerala officials will meet the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC ) chief later this month. In a meeting with the Union Power Minister RK Singh last day, K. Krishnankutty requested the centre to consider the possibilities of setting up the Thorium-Based Nuclear Plant in the state. 

Thorium deposits, chiefly refined from monazite sands, are found on the beaches at Chavara in Kayamkulam. Kerala has around 2 lakh tonnes of thorium deposits, accounting for 30 per cent of the world's total thorium deposit.

Furthermore, NTPC has 1180 acres of unused land in the area. In addition, the Kayamkulam thermal power plant is located here but is currently not generating electricity.

The electricity board plans to use this land to set up nuclear plants.

Kalpakkam plant, with 32 MW capacity, is constructed by BARC with precautions to minimize risk and nuclear waste. The risk involved in smaller plants with a power capacity of 30 to 50 MW is much lesser. It is the reason why the government has proposed setting up the plant on NTPC's land in Kayamkulam.