Private Sector May Play Key Role in N-Power Road Map

Capacity expansion plan involves JVs between the pvt players and NPCIL

- PUJA DAS

The Union Government is formulating a comprehensive national nuclear energy mission, which was announced in the 2025-26 Union Budget, aiming to install 22 gigawatt (GW) of nuclear power capacity by 2032 and 100 GW by 2047. The current nuclear power capacity is 8.8 GW.

The capacity expansion plan involves setting up nuclear power plants across states through joint ventures between the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) and the private sector and amending several laws, it is learnt.

A consultative process is underway, led by NITI Aayog along with NPCIL, involving state energy ministers as nodal points to ensure alignment with state-level energy priorities.

India acknowledges that not all energy demand can be met through renewables, making residual emissions inevitable—these will be offset through carbon sinks like afforestation and carbon capture. "To ensure reliable base-load power for industries, we need to prioritise nuclear energy, targeting an addition of 100 GW to gradually replace coal," a senior government official said.

"A detailed road map is also being modelled with the help of all rural district bodies, on the lines of the critical minerals and hydrogen missions," the official said.