India To Add 13,600 MW Nuclear Power Capacity In The Next Six Years

A large nuclear power expansion programme of 13,600 MW that is under implementation is expected to increase India’s nuclear power capacity to 22,480 MW by 2031-32, the Parliament was informed.

Currently, there are 25 operational nuclear power plants in the country with a total capacity of 8,880 MW, Union Minister of State (Independent charge), Department of Atomic Energy Dr. Jitendra Singh said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

The minister stated that the National Fuel Complex (NFC)-Kota project is scheduled for completion by March 2026. It has currently achieved more than 90 per cent physical progress with the commissioning of major equipment in advanced stage.

Singh explained that India is pursuing a three-stage nuclear power programme, for optimum utilisation of its limited uranium resources and exploiting vast thorium resources for long-term energy security, by following nearly closed nuclear fuel cycle wherein the spent fuel from reactors is treated as resource material and not waste. India has developed expertise in backend fuel cycle of pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs), the minister said. The Programme of Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD&ER) is linked to the front end of nuclear fuel cycle, wherein exploration is carried out to identify, evaluate and augment atomic mineral resources to cater the need of Nuclear Power Programme of India.

As on date, AMD&ER has established 4,28,300 tonnes in-situ U-oxide resource in 47 uranium deposits located in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra, he explained.

Besides, the directorate has estimated 13.15 million tonnes (MT) in-situmonazite (a mineral containing thorium, uranium and Rare Earth Elements) resource occurring in the coastal beach and teri/red sands in parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat and in the inland alluvium in parts of Jharkhand, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.