India's Prime Minister Inaugurates Mahi Banswara Nuclear Project

Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has attended the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the country's four-unit Mahi Banswara nuclear plant in Rajasthan while confirming more than Rs.90,000 crore (US$10.1 billion) in power projects for the region.

The Mahi Banswara nuclear project, which will comprise four 700-megawatt (MW) pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) designed by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) (Mumbai, India), is one of the core projects of India's major expansion plan for nuclear power. India recently confirmed plans to more than double its nuclear capacity of 8.8 gigawatts (GW) by 2032 on its way to achieving 100 GW of capacity by 2047. Nuclear, along with renewables, will be pivotal in transitioning the country away from fossil fuels, which account for 240 GW (50.5%) of its energy total. For additional information, see August 14, 2025, article--India Commits to Major Nuclear Power Expansion.

Around Rs.42,000 crore (US$4.7 billion) has been committed to the Mahi Banswara nuclear project. It will be constructed by Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam Ltd (Ashvini), a joint venture approved by the government between NPCIL and India's largest power company, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) (New Delhi), to build, own and operate nuclear power plants in India. Its four reactors are part of a wider strategy to quickly roll out 10 identical units around the country, sharing the same design and procurement methods, which the government believes will allow for faster rollouts, shared expertise and cost savings. Two 700-MW units at Kakrapar, in Gujarat, have already been commissioned. Others in the works, noted by World Nuclear News, include Kaiga units 5 and 6 in Karnataka, Gorakhpur units 3 and 4 in Haryana and Chutka units 1 and 2 in Madhya Pradesh. In total, Industrial Info is tracking 18 nuclear plant projects with a combined investment value of US$75 billion. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for the reports.

"In today's era of technology and industry, development runs on the power of electricity; electricity brings light, speed, progress, connectivity, and global access", said Modi. "India is working at high speed to become a developed nation, with Rajasthan playing a significant role in this journey. Our government is transforming the clean energy mission into a people's movement." Additional spending of Rs.32,000 crore (US$3.6 billion) was also allocated in Rajasthan at the foundation stone laying ceremonies for a number of major solar power and grid infrastructure projects.

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