Tata Power Starts Nuclear Plant Site Surveys in Odisha, Gujarat and MP

30 Jul 2026, 09:29 by Vinay Kakkad · KalingaTV

India’s private nuclear power ambitions are beginning to take shape, with Tata Power identifying potential project sites across three states and targeting commissioning of its first privately developed nuclear power plant by 2032–33, subject to regulatory approvals and the rollout of the government’s new nuclear framework.

The company has shortlisted locations in Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Gujarat, where geotechnical investigations are already underway. Alongside these site studies, Tata Power is preparing detailed project reports (DPRs) and feasibility assessments, which it expects to complete within the next six months before moving through the required approval process.

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Praveer Sinha said construction could begin in the early part of 2028, provided the government finalises the rules governing private participation in the sector. Based on the current timeline, the company expects its first nuclear power plant to become operational during 2032–33, marking the entry of private industry into commercial nuclear generation in India.

Tata Power is also in discussions with three state governments to secure approvals for soil and water testing linked to the proposed projects. In parallel, it is working with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) on its nuclear expansion plans. Sinha said the company is preparing feasibility reports and DPRs before seeking the various statutory clearances required for execution.

The utility is evaluating the development of two 220-megawatt small modular reactor (SMR) projects, although it has not disclosed either the proposed capacities beyond those reactors or the exact project locations.

According to Sinha, the company expects the Centre to provide greater clarity on issues including long-term uranium availability, fuel price stability, and the broader regulatory architecture under the new nuclear legislation. He estimated that once applications are submitted, the approval process itself could take 12 to 14 months.

The company’s plans follow India’s decision to dismantle the decades-old state monopoly over nuclear power generation. Parliament last year approved legislation allowing private participation in the sector as part of the country’s strategy to strengthen energy security while reducing carbon emissions. The government has set an ambitious target of increasing India’s nuclear generation capacity eleven-fold by 2047.

At present, nuclear energy contributes only about 3% of India’s electricity generation. The country’s installed nuclear capacity stands at 8.8 gigawatts, all of which is operated by the state-owned Nuclear Power Corporation of India. A government panel has estimated that achieving the 2047 expansion target will require investments of nearly ₹19.3 trillion (about $202 billion).

India’s renewed push mirrors a broader global revival of nuclear energy, driven by rising electricity demand from artificial intelligence applications and data centres. Several countries have accelerated nuclear programmes after years of caution following the 2011 Fukushima disaster, with Japan restarting reactors and China, South Korea and Bangladesh continuing to build new nuclear facilities.

The policy momentum has also been supported by international cooperation. Earlier this month, Australia agreed to supply uranium for India’s civilian nuclear programme while expanding bilateral energy cooperation during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit.