New Delhi: State-owned power major NTPC Limited is preparing to submit its first feasibility study for a proposed nuclear power project to the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and will soon seek formal approval to move ahead, sources said.
Once cleared, the project would mark NTPC's entry into standalone nuclear power generation in India. The company is reportedly aiming to build at least 2 GW of nuclear capacity by 2032 as part of its broader diversification into non-fossil energy sources.
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According to sources, NTPC is simultaneously conducting feasibility studies across multiple states and has recently received approval from the Bihar government to explore a potential site in the Banka district.
"The company will be very soon submitting the completed feasibility study for the nuclear project in the state very soon," one of the sources said, requesting anonymity.
He added that site-specific details are being withheld due to the sensitive nature of the project.
As per the approval process, proposals are first reviewed by the Standing Site Selection Committee of the DAE. If found technically viable, they are forwarded to the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) for further evaluation.
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Another source said feasibility studies in two additional states are nearing completion, while exploratory work is also underway in others.
Sources further noted that a feasibility study typically includes preliminary assessments of investment, land, water availability and other infrastructure requirements.
"On an average, NTPC is looking to set up at least two units of 700 megawatt each in the states being explored for nuclear projects," a source said.
Industry estimates suggest that setting up 1 GW of nuclear capacity requires an investment of around Rs 15,000-20,000 crore and takes at least three years from planning to commissioning. Water availability remains a critical requirement, with approximately five litres needed to generate one unit of nuclear power, along with a defined land exclusion zone of about one square kilometre.
NTPC Limited is currently evaluating potential sites in states including Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh as part of its long-term nuclear expansion strategy.
Established in 1975 as a thermal power producer, NTPC has expanded significantly into hydro, solar, gas and other energy segments. The company currently reports a group installed capacity of 89,805.30 MW.
In the nuclear sector, NTPC is already involved in a joint venture with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited in Rajasthan, with an estimated investment of around Rs 42,000 crore.
Under this partnership, NTPC holds a 49 per cent stake in ASHVINI (Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam Ltd), while NPCIL holds 51 per cent. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the 4x700 MW Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project in Banswara in September last year.