Bangalore, July 24 - The Karnataka government late Friday urged the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) to set up a 2,000 MW greenfield nuclear power plant in the state to meet its growing demand for energy.

'I have told AEC chairman Anil Kakodakar to direct the state-run Nuclear Power Corporation Ltd (NPCL) to set up the greenfield atomic power station in Bijapur district in north Karnataka where land and other infrastructure facilities will be made available,' state Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa told reporters here.

Kakodakar, however, favoured a coastal site for setting up the new nuclear power plant for logistic and operational reasons on the lines of the NPCL-run Kaiga atomic power generation unit near Karwar on the western coast.

'Though an independent site selection committee will evaluate the locations for setting up such plants, a site in the coastal region will be advantageous to all stakeholders. It will be easier for equipment suppliers to transport their heavy equipment on ship and barge-mounted platform,' Kakodkar told the chief minister and top state officials.

The state also prevailed upon Kakodkar to expand the Kaiga plant capacity with two additional units of 700 MW each and offered to provide additional land or new site in the adjoining area.

'As the state lacks natural resources such as coal and gas, we have to rely on nuclear power to meet our growing energy needs.