India is preparing its third bulk procurement of indigenously developed nuclear reactors, reinforcing the government’s accelerated push to expand atomic energy capacity and meet long-term clean power goals. The Centre is evaluating plans to float tenders for up to 10 Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), each with a capacity of 700 megawatts (MW).
The bulk procurement strategy is aimed at improving cost efficiency by leveraging scale, strengthening negotiating power with suppliers, and standardising project execution. Similar approaches in earlier reactor orders have helped streamline construction timelines and reduce overall costs.
The move follows significant legislative reforms introduced in December that reshaped India’s nuclear power framework. The changes removed liability provisions that earlier exposed equipment suppliers to potentially unlimited damage claims and ended the government’s exclusive control over nuclear power generation. As a result, private companies are now permitted to participate directly in a sector that was historically reserved for state entities.
India has set an ambitious target of achieving 100 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity by 2047, representing an eleven-fold increase from current levels. Meeting this goal will require investments estimated at around $211 billion, translating to nearly $10 billion annually over the coming decades.
Private sector interest has gathered momentum following the reforms. JSW Energy, one of India’s largest private power producers, has begun evaluating potential sites and expects to initiate construction of its first nuclear project within the next three to four years.
India’s nuclear expansion plans align with a broader global revival of atomic energy, driven by the dual pressures of decarbonisation commitments and rising electricity demand from data centres, artificial intelligence infrastructure, and digital economies. Global nuclear capacity is projected to more than double by mid-century, supported by large-scale capital inflows into the sector.
Despite the renewed momentum, challenges persist. Industry observers caution that nuclear power projects are capital-intensive and prone to delays, raising concerns over cost recovery and long-term affordability if financial risks are ultimately passed on to consumers.
