India has approved 10 reactors, which will add 7,000 MWe to nuclear energy capacity. The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) says this includes pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs), such as Kaiga NPP units 5&6, Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (GHAVP) NPP units 3&4, Chutka NPP units 1&2, and Mahi Banswara NPP units 1&2 and 3&4.
There are also eight reactors already under construction, contributing 6,600 MWe. “With the progressive completion of these projects, the nuclear power capacity in India is projected to reach 22,480 MWe by 2031-2032,” DAE noted.
India also plans to develop Indigenous Fast Breeder Reactors, which align with India’s three-stage nuclear power programme designed for utilisation of its uranium and thorium resources through a closed fuel cycle. In addition, India aims to deploy Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs) for the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate industries.
Currently, nuclear power accounts for around 1.6% of India’s total installed electricity capacity. With the planned expansion, this share is expected to rise to approximately 3.7% of India’s projected installed capacity by 2032.
In May, a meeting of the Consultative Committee of India’s Ministry of Power affirmed the Government’s target of achieving 100 GWe of nuclear power capacity by 2047 in line with India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. This will significantly strengthen India’s long-term energy security and contribute towards achieving clean energy goals.
In her budget speech in July 2024, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Government would be partnering with the private sector for setting up BSRs, research and development of Bharat Small Modular Reactors (BSMRs), and research & development of newer technologies for nuclear energy. The 2025 budget includes an allocation of INR200bn ($2.5bn) for the design and deployment of SMRs.
The “concept design” stage of the BSMR was completed in March, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh has told the Lok Sabha (parliament). Once the project is sanctioned, it will take 60-72 months for the reactor to be constructed.
