The government has tentatively selected 10 old or decommissioned thermal power plant sites across different states for potential conversion into nuclear power facilities. This initiative is part of the Centre’s broader plan to scale up nuclear energy capacity to 100 GW up from the current 8.8 GW by 2047. The selection is still at a preliminary stage. A final decision will be made following assessments by a site selection committee that includes representatives from the nuclear power corporation of India, according to sources familiar with the matter, reported ET.One of the proposed locations, the Wanakbori thermal power station in Gujarat, home to seven units of 210 MW each, has already been inspected by a team, a source added.“The list is raw and a first step in the process. The selection of nuclear plants is much more stringent than thermal, so the process will take time,” the person told ET. The site selection for repurposing old thermal power plants into nuclear facilities will depend on factors such as seismic stability, water availability, and proximity to populated areas, he added. A government official informed ET, that one of the main advantages of converting these sites is the existing infrastructure, including land, water access, and transmission networks. However, establishing exclusion zones with a minimum 1-kilometre radius around nuclear plants, where public habitation is restricted, will be a critical consideration before finalizing any location.The ministry of power is also exploring different nuclear power generation technologies, such as small modular reactors, based on the suitability of each thermal site in terms of space and resources.To achieve its target of 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047 under the Viksit Bharat vision, the government plans to deploy multiple nuclear technologies. In the near term, India aims to reach 22 GW of nuclear capacity by 2032.