Odisha has granted in-principle approval to NTPC and Adani Power to conduct feasibility studies for nuclear power projects at multiple locations, marking the state’s first substantive move towards adding nuclear generation to its energy mix. Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo informed the state Assembly that NTPC had received permission to assess four sites.

NTPC has selected a site near Deogarh for further action. Its approved locations also include Nayagada and Nabarangpur. Adani Power has received approval to examine sites near the Balimela Dam in Malkangiri district and the Manjore Dam in Angul district. No project has yet been sanctioned, and site surveys and feasibility assessments are still pending.

The state had received proposals from NTPC, Adani Power and Tata Power. Tata Power had expressed interest in a nuclear plant in Malkangiri and identified Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat for projects with capacities of 2 × 220 MW or 2 × 700 MW, depending on reactor size. The capacity, technology and investment requirement for NTPC’s proposed Odisha project have not been finalised.

Adani Power has proposed two nuclear plants of 2,800 MW each, involving an investment of around Rs. 1.5 tn. It has also proposed an ultra-supercritical thermal power plant and pumped storage projects. Balimela has an existing 510 MW hydroelectric station operated by Odisha Hydro Power Corporation, while the reservoir is shared by Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

Water availability is an important consideration for conventional nuclear plants because reactors require substantial cooling water. The final assessment will also cover geology, seismicity, hydrology, environmental conditions, population density, emergency planning and safety parameters. India has 24 nuclear power plants in commercial operation, excluding the 100 MW RAPS-1, with installed capacity of 8.78 GW. Nuclear generation accounted for about 3.1 per cent of electricity production in 2025-26. The Union government is targeting 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047, with capacity expected to reach about 22 GW by 2031-32 through projects under implementation.