India has announced its ambitious plan to build a bevvy of nuclear power plants by the end of 2031(at least 20, to be exact), with an increase in generating power capacity of over 15,000 MW. This plan is in accordance with the country’s aim of lowering its reliance on non-renewable energy and increasing its use of clean energy sources. The move is also expected to boost India’s economy, create job opportunities, and improve the country’s energy security.
According to earlier statements made by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, public sector firms would be enlisted to aid in the construction of plants.
Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the PMO, stated in a written response that the 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam is anticipated to begin operating in 2024, followed by two 1,000 MW units at Kudankulam in 2025. In Gujarat’s Kakrapar, where there are already three operating nuclear power plants, the first of these 20 plants, a 700 MW unit, is anticipated to be put into service in 2023
He said that two 700 MW units at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan would likely be finished by 2026 and that two further 1,000 MW units at Kudankulam would probably be finished by 2027. According to Singh, who listed specifics of projects being considered, two 700 MW units are anticipated to be finished in Gorakhpur in Haryana by 2029.
Additionally, the government had granted administrative approvals and financial sanctions for the construction of 10 nuclear power units, each with a capacity of 700 MW, at Gorakhpur in Haryana (units 3 and 4), Kaiga in Karnataka (units 5 and 6), Chutka in Madhya Pradesh (units 1 and 2), and four units at Mahi Banswara in Rajasthan.
Singh stated that these 10 nuclear power units will likely be finished in stages by 2031.
In a written response to a different inquiry, Singh stated that between 2017–18 and 2021–22, the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project’s (units 1&2) contribution to the national grid was 48,382 million units of electricity.
The minister reported that 1,257 people work for Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited at the Kudankulam site (KKNPP Units 1 through 6), in total. 810 of these workers are from Tamil Nadu, said Singh.
A study of data from the International Atomic Energy Agency by the Business Standard reveals that it has historically taken India more than ten years to implement plants.
The average construction period for nuclear reactors in India is 14.2 years, measured from the initial concrete pour for the plant’s construction to the moment it is connected to the grid.
India has been attempting to harness nuclear power faster by developing units in fleet mode, despite having a proportion of just a single digit of total electricity generation.
Nuclear energy accounted for 3.2% of India’s electricity production in 2021, up from 2.8% a decade earlier. India’s contribution to nuclear production increased from 0.8% to 1.5%.
Global nuclear power production is expected to increase by 46% by 2040, with 90% of this increase in generation occurring in India and China, according to a pre-pandemic prediction by the International Energy Agency, an intergovernmental organisation that assists with policy recommendations in the energy sector.
However, building 20 nuclear power plants by 2031 will not be easy. The Indian government will need to overcome several challenges, such as public opposition to nuclear energy, lack of public awareness about the benefits of nuclear energy, and concerns about the safety of nuclear power plants.
Despite these challenges, the Indian government remains optimistic regarding the country’s nuclear energy potential. As per this recent report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), India can become a leading producer of nuclear energy in the coming decades.
The IAEA report stated that India’s strong commitment to developing nuclear energy, combined with its large population and growing economy, makes it an attractive market for the global nuclear industry. The report also stated that India’s experience building and operating nuclear power plants would be valuable to other countries in the region.
India’s plan to build 20 nuclear power plants by 2031 is a bold and ambitious move. The Indian government is confident that it will succeed in this endeavour, and that nuclear energy will play an important aspect in the future energy mix of the country. The government is committed to promoting public understanding of nuclear energy, ensuring the safety of its nuclear power plants, and collaborating with other countries to develop advanced technologies.
