Eye on nuclear energy mission, NPCIL looks to speed up capacity addition

This move aligns with NPCIL's goal to lead India's nuclear energy mission, potentially reaching 54 GW by 2047.

New Delhi: Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) may soon seek approvals for 10 more pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) of 700 MW each to be built in 'fleet mode', said people aware of the development, underscoring the company's strategy to fasten the pace of nuclear capacity addition. The new units could be greenfield or brownfield, one of the persons said.

NPCIL's move tracks the state-run company's aim to pursue the majority of the capacity building of India's nuclear energy mission. New Delhi is also looking to amend the Atomic Energy law to enable private sector foray into the strategic sector.

Fleet mode refers to building multiple reactors of a similar design and configuration at the same time, or in a series.

NPCIL did not respond to ET 's query.The latest plan adds to the company's ongoing development of 10 units of PHWRs under fleet mode including in Rajasthan, Karnataka, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh.

NPCIL had earlier told ET it was aiming to achieve about half of India's nuclear energy capacity goal of 100 GW by 2047. The target may rise to 54 GW as per the roadmap discussions for 100 GW capacity, a second person said.

India has currently installed nuclear power capacity of 8.8 GW from 25 operational plants operated entirely by NPCIL.The indigenous 700-MW PHWRs would be the company's mainstay, supplemented by large-capacity light water reactors with potential international cooperation.

NPCIL is looking to commission multiple reactors, including PHWRs and LWRs, to boost its installed capacity to about 22 GW by 2031-32. With the addition of Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs) by 2035, the installed nuclear capacity will grow further, NPCIL chairman Bhuwan Chandra Pathak had told ET.

PHWRs are developed in fleet mode to reduce costs, expedite construction, and leverage economies of scale.