Govt Approves 10 New Reactors, Aims for 13.7 GW Nuclear by 2032

• Nuclear power capacity to increase from 8,780 MW to 22,480 MW by 2031–32.
• Expansion includes FBRs, BSRs, SMRs, and a closed fuel cycle.
• Rs 20,000 crore mission launched for R&D, global collaboration, and exports.

India is likely to have 22,480 MW of nuclear power, up from the current 8,780 MW of installed capacity, as a result of commissioning the eight reactors currently under construction and the ten that are under sanction, said the Union Minister, Jitendra Singh, in the Lok Sabha.

The country has 24 operational reactors with 8,780 MW of aggregate capacity. Eight more reactors, with an aggregate capacity of 6,600 MW, are being constructed. These are 700 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), including RAPP-8 and GHAVP-1&2; 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), developed by BHAVINI, and a number of Light Water Reactors (LWRs) constructed under international collaboration - e.g. KKNPP-3&4 and KKNPP-5&6.

An additional ten PHWRs, totalling 7,000 MW of capacity, are in pre-project activities. This includes Kaiga 5&6, GHAVP 3&4, Chutka 1&2, and Mahi Banswara 1 to 4. When combined with all of these projects, India's total nuclear capacity will rise to 22,480 MW.  

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The Union Minister stated, "The specific measures outlined to reach this goal involve a multi-faceted approach, leveraging both indigenous development and international collaboration".

The plan also promotes indigenous Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs), as well as continuing to progress India's three-stage nuclear programme, which aims to facilitate the use of limited uranium and abundant thorium while working towards a closed fuel cycle.

India is also moving ahead with the introduction of Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs) to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors and is actively developing Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Indian designed LWRs. A Nuclear Energy Mission has been initiated with a budget of Rs 20,000 crore to fund SMR R&D, international collaboration, and exporting reactors, technologies, and fuel.