By 2031, India expects to bring 21 new power reactors online with a combined generating capacity of 15,700 MWe, according to Dr Jitendra Singh, the minister of state for the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Prime Minister's Office.
He told parliament on 3 January that nine power reactors are currently at various stages of construction, including two units each in the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana, and three in Tamil Nadu. All these units are scheduled to be completed by 2024-2025. Singh also noted that 12 further reactors had been accorded administrative approval and financial sanction by the government in June 2017. "Thus, 21 nuclear power reactors, with an installed capacity of 15,700 MWe are under implementation, envisaged for progressive completion by the year 2031."
Singh noted that five sites had been granted "in principle" approval to establish a further 28 reactors: Jaitapur in Maharashtra; Kovvada in Andhra Pradesh; Chhaya Mithi Virdi in Gujarat; Haripur in West Bengal and Bhimpur in Madhya Pradesh.
India currently has 22 reactors in operation at seven sites with a combined capacity of 6780MWe.
Earlier in January, Singh told parliament that North India’s first nuclear plant was under construction up at village Gorakhpur in the Fatehabad district of Haryana. The first phase of the project, comprising two units (700MWe PHWRs), is expected to be completed in 2025. Most of India’s reactors have previously been sited the South Indian states such as Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh or the Western States such as Maharashtra and Gujarat.
The Haryana plant is expected to generate employment for over 2000 persons once it is in operation. Excavation work is in progress at an advanced stage. Land acquisition formalities have been completed and orders have been placed for long delivery equipment including end-shields and steam-generators. Expenditure incurred on this project up to November 2018 was INR14,840 million ($211m). However, the approved completion cost of the project is INR206 billion.
