NPCIL Plans 10 More PHWRs to Boost India’s Nuclear Capacity

India’s push toward nuclear power will see NPCIL seek clearance for 10 new PHWRs, each with a capacity of 700 MW. The government wants to build these reactors following the ‘fleet’ strategy, as it’s getting the nuclear program going more rapidly.

Constructing reactors of similar design and configuration simultaneously or in a series—enables faster rollout, cost efficiencies, and streamlined execution. According to people aware of the development, the proposed PHWRs could come up at greenfield or brownfield sites.

This move complements NPCIL’s ongoing development of 10 PHWRs across Rajasthan, Karnataka, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh, as part of its larger plan to dominate India’s nuclear energy roadmap. “NPCIL had earlier told, it was aiming to achieve about half of India's nuclear energy capacity goal of 100 GW by 2047,” with targets potentially rising to 54 GW under a revised roadmap, a person added.

Key highlights:

• The new PHWRs may be built on greenfield or brownfield sites across multiple states.
• India currently operates 25 nuclear plants with a total capacity of 8.8 GW, all by NPCIL.
• NPCIL plans to add Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs) by 2035 to further expand nuclear capacity.

“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,” said NPCIL Chairman Bhuwan Chandra Pathak.

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Currently, India operates 25 nuclear plants with a total installed capacity of 8.8 GW, all managed by NPCIL. The indigenous 700-MW PHWRs will continue as the backbone of expansion, alongside international collaborations on large light water reactors (LWRs).