Tata arm seeks bigger private sector role in nuclear power, says CEO

Tata Consulting Engineers (TCE), which has been associated with the country's nuclear programme for over five decades, feels it is time for the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) to focus on strategic objectives and work more with the private sector on the energy front, according to a top company official.

The city-headquartered DAE should take some inspiration from its state-run space counterpart Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which has helped accelerate the pace of growth for the private sector, TCE's managing director and chief executive Amit Sharma said.

"DAE was formed for national strategic objectives, not to produce electricity...

It should retain that core identity and let the private sector completely work on nuclear (energy)," Sharma told PTI.

Facilities like labs at Mumbai's Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) should be made available to the private sector for testing their concepts, Sharma said, adding that other countries, including China, the US and South .