Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon lay the foundation stone of a 2,800 Megawatt (MW) nuclear power project in Banswara, Rajasthan. The project, a joint initiative between NTPC Ltd and Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL), will mark NTPC’s foray into nuclear energy generation.

The project will feature four Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) of 700 MW each. The first unit is expected to be commissioned in 2031, with the subsequent three units coming online at six-month intervals. Most of the material required for the project will be sourced from domestic contractors through competitive bidding.

The foundation stone ceremony is expected to be attended by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Governor Haribhai Bagade, Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal, MNRE Secretary SK Sarangi, and Department of Atomic Energy Secretary AK Mohanty. Senior officials including AERB Chairman DK Shukla, BARC Director Vivek Bhasin, NTPC CMD Gurdeep Singh, and NPCIL Chairman Bhuwan Chandra Pathak are also likely to join.

Recently, NTPC CMD Gurdeep Singh said the company is going “very aggressive” on nuclear power, with plans to add 30 GW capacity by 2047. NTPC will set up projects both independently and under its existing JV with NPCIL, while also exploring partnerships with Tata Consulting Engineers, L&T, EDF, Rosatom, and Holtec.

Currently, India has 8,800 MW of installed nuclear power capacity, with the government targeting 200 GW by 2047. In support of this growth, the Union Budget has earmarked nearly Rs 200 billion for nuclear energy development.

News source: Business Standard