Tata Power plans to build first nuclear power plant by 2032

Tata Power Co. expects to construct its first nuclear power plant no earlier than 2032. This move comes after India abolished the ten-year state monopoly in nuclear energy, aiming to strengthen energy security while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions.

Project Plans and Timelines

According to Chief Executive Officer Praveer Singh, the company has preliminarily identified sites for nuclear facilities in at least three states. Work is expected to begin after the government approves regulations for private companies. Singh told Bloomberg Television on Tuesday that construction could start in early 2028, with the first private nuclear power plant ready by 2032–2033.

Site Selection and Government Expectations

Tata Power has already identified sites in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Gujarat, and geodesic surveys have commenced on these areas. Singh anticipates that the government will clarify issues such as long-term uranium supply and price stability during the finalization of the nuclear bill's rules. He added that the approval process is projected to take between 12 and 14 months.

Context of Nuclear Energy Development

India's push for nuclear energy development reflects a global renaissance in the industry. Countries are gradually moving away from the caution that followed the Fukushima disaster in 2011, as the growing electricity demand from data centers and artificial intelligence reignites interest in nuclear power. Examples include the restart of reactors in Japan, as well as the construction of new facilities in China, South Korea, and Bangladesh.

Sector Scale and Goals

Last year, the Indian parliament passed a law that opened this sector to private firms, setting an ambitious goal to increase the country's nuclear generation capacity elevenfold by 2047. Currently, the sector supplies only 3% of India's electricity, with all existing capacity of 8.8 gigawatts operated by the state corporation Nuclear Power Corp. According to a government commission, this expansion will require investments of nearly 19.3 trillion rupees ($202 billion USD).

International Cooperation

Earlier this month, Australia agreed to supply uranium for India's civilian nuclear program and expand energy cooperation during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit.

business-standard.comJuly 16, 12:47

NPCIL-NTPC JV invites bids for construction of the Mahi Banswara nuclear project core

India is seeking proposals for the construction of a nuclear power plant core in the western state of Rajasthan, which will be one of the largest utilizing indigenous reactors. The state-owned company Nuclear Power Corp. of India Ltd. announced on social media that the contract for the so-called nuclear island package for a 2.8 gigawatt power station is valued at 28,000 crore rupees ($2.9 billion).

Tender and Project Partners

The tender was issued by the joint venture between the company and India's leading power producer, NTPC Ltd., named Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam Ltd. The Mahi Banswara project will be the first nuclear facility in the country not wholly owned by Nuclear Power Corp., which currently manages all of India's atomic power capacity amounting to 8.8 gigawatts.

Technical Details and Objectives

Anushakti Vidhyut plans to construct four 700-megawatt reactors using locally developed compressed heavy water technology. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has opened this strategically sensitive sector by allowing private firms to build and operate nuclear power plants, with the ambitious goal of increasing the country's nuclear generation capacity elevenfold by 2047. Currently, this sector provides only 3% of India's electricity.

Investments and Implementation Timeline

Businessman Gautam Adani has already announced plans to create 10 gigawatts of nuclear capacity, and Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries Ltd. signed a preliminary agreement to invest 2 trillion rupees in nuclear projects in the coastal state of Maharashtra. The tender covers the design and construction of the nuclear island—the part of the plant where the reactor and associated systems are located, in addition to other vital infrastructure. The deadline for submitting bids is September 30.

Additional Project Aspects

The total cost of the Anushakti project is estimated at 42,000 crore rupees. According to project partner NTPC, the first reactor will begin operation in 2031, and the remaining three units will be commissioned within the next five years. This project is also the first for NTPC in the nuclear energy sector, as the company aims to decarbonize its coal-based fleet. The New Delhi-based utility intends to build 30 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2047, which would account for 30% of India's target capacity by then.