India

As of 31 December 2022

India has 22 reactors at seven nuclear power plants located both inland and along the coast. The majority of reactors are indigenously-designed pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs).

In April 2023 the government announced plans to increase nuclear capacity from 6780 MWe to 22,480 MWe by 2031, with nuclear accounting for nearly 9% of India's electricity by 2047.

Two VVER-1000 reactors at the Kudankulam nuclear power plant, located in Tamil Nadu, began commercial operation in 2013 and 2017, respectively. Four additional VVER-1000 units are under construction at the site: units 3&4 began construction in 2017; unit 5 in June 2021; and unit 6 in December 2021. All four units are expected to be completed by 2027.

Kakrapar is an indigenously-designed plant in India's Gujarat state with three operating reactors and one under construction. Unit 3 – India’s first PHWR-700 – was connected to the grid in January 2021 but has still not reached commercial operation (as of June 2023). Units 3&4 began construction in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

Two further PHWR-700 units are under construction at Rajasthan 7&8 and in May 2023 a ‘supplementary joint venture agreement’ was signed between NTPC – the country's largest power company – and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) for the development of six PHWR-700 units: two at Chutka in Madhya Pradesh and four at Mahi Banswara in Rajasthan.

Figure In1. Annual electricity output (TWh) and age of reactors (years) at time of generation

Figure In2. Average capacity factor of reactors in India

Figure In3. Emissions avoidance through use of nuclear generation in India

WNN Links

India's long-term development strategy sees nuclear expansion : World Nuclear News - 15 November 2022

India gives update on nuclear construction projects : World Nuclear News - 16 December 2022