India

India-nuclear.pngAs 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

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Figure In2. Average capacity factor of reactors in India

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

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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