Powering The Future! India To Setup 18 Nuclear Plants Totaling 13.8GW

India is set to significantly expand its nuclear power capacity with plans to construct 18 additional reactors, generating a combined 13,800 MW of electricity, according to government data. This ambitious push, detailed in official documents from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), comes as the country aims to bolster its energy security and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Five new sites have already received in-principle approval, signaling a concrete step toward this goal.

Currently, India operates 24 nuclear reactors across six states— Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh—with a total installed capacity of 8,180 MW. Tamil Nadu alone accounts for 2,440 MW, or roughly 30% of the national total, thanks to the Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS-1&2, 2x220 MW) at Kalpakkam and the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP-1&2, 2x1,000 MW). This southern state is a cornerstone of India’s nuclear energy landscape, and it’s poised for further growth with projects already underway.

Among the ongoing developments, Rajasthan’s Rawatbhata site is seeing two 700 MW units being built at a cost exceeding Rs 22,900 crore, slated for completion within the current financial year. In Tamil Nadu, three additional units—two at Kudankulam and one at Kalpakkam—with a combined capacity of 2,500 MW, are in progress and expected to come online between 2026 and 2028. Haryana’s Gorakhpur project, featuring two 700 MW reactors and costing over Rs 20,000 crore, is another key initiative, with completion targeted for 2031-32. These projects reflect India’s commitment to scaling up its nuclear infrastructure swiftly and sustainably.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh, overseeing the DAE, recently emphasized the continuous effort to identify new sites, stating, “The process of locating future nuclear power plants is an ongoing activity, carried out by the Standing Site Selection Committee of the Department of Atomic Energy.” Five proposed sites have already been greenlit: Kovavada in Andhra Pradesh (6x1,208 MW), Jaitapur in Maharashtra (6x1,730 MW), Mithi Virdi in Gujarat (2x1,000 MW), Bhimpur in Madhya Pradesh (4x700 MW), and Haripur in West Bengal (6x1,000 MW). These locations promise to diversify and expand India’s nuclear footprint significantly.

With nuclear power currently contributing just over 3% to the nation’s electricity mix, this expansion—adding 13,800 MW to the existing 8,180 MW—could push the total capacity to 22,480 MW by 2031-32, aligning with earlier government projections. It’s a bold move toward a cleaner, more self-reliant energy future, blending indigenous technology with international collaborations. As these plants take shape, India’s nuclear ambitions are set to power not just homes, but a broader vision of sustainable growth.