NTPC expands nuclear plans, eyes 16 states for power sites

NTPC Ltd is increasing its operations in the nuclear market. It has already initiated negotiations with 16 states such as Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat to acquire land to use in new plants.

The company will have a total of 30 GW of nuclear power by 2047, which is in line with the national target of India, which is 100 GW. It will construct massively pressurised heavy-water reactors (PHWRs) of 700MW to 1600MW.

NTPC will collaborate with foreign firms in case of increased capacities. It had earlier this year formed NTPC Parmana Urja Nigam Ltd that would manage its nuclear projects.

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NTPC has already entered the segment through the 4x700 MW Mahi Banswara project in Rajasthan, developed with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL). Around 60 employees are being trained in nuclear operations at NTPC’s Power Management Institute in Noida, and the company is exploring uranium mine acquisitions abroad.

India already has approximately 8 GW of nuclear power in 23 reactors, and hopes to have 22.5 GW by 2031. NTPC can be said to cost 4.5 -6 lakh crore to expand, which is a huge investment in the next 20 years. Nuclear power is a non-fossil base-load source, which will enable India to achieve its 500GW renewable-energy objective by 2030. This action will consolidate the clean-energy portfolio of NTPC, create grid stability and provide energy security in the long term.