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NTPC, India’s biggest power producer, is looking to team up with global players to build 15 GW worth of nuclear reactors. This marks the first major nuclear move since India began opening up its tightly controlled nuclear sector.
15 GW could power roughly 10 to 12 crore homes, that’s nearly half of India’s households.
Backstory: India’s 1962 Atomic Energy Act prohibits private firms from operating nuclear plants. But recent announcements suggest that law could be amended, opening the door to private and foreign capital.
The deets: NTPC is looking for partners that offer advanced pressurized water reactor technology and can commit to a lifetime supply of nuclear fuel.
Right now, nuclear power is still largely state-run. NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd) operates close to 8 GW and is aiming for 20 GW by 2032 and 100 GW by 2047.
The why: Nuclear energy can generate large-scale power without carbon emissions or air pollution, offering a stable, low-emission alternative to coal.
Worth noting: this comes right after the U.S. approved a major SMR (Small Modular Reactor) tech transfer to India, a big step in Indo-U.S. nuclear cooperation.
Big picture: India’s nuclear market is small but strategic. All 8 GW of current capacity is state-run, but with 10 new reactors under construction and policy reform in the pipeline, NTPC’s entry could be a turning point in making nuclear power a pillar of India’s energy future.
FYI, India now ranks 4th globally in installed renewable energy capacity—with 209 GW as of the latest numbers.
