Key Takeaway:
- Banka district will host the 2.8 GW plant, starting with two 700 MW reactors and expanding to four.
- The project follows the SHANTI Act, 2025, which modernised laws to allow broader corporate ownership of nuclear assets.
- NTPC is targeting 30 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047, requiring an estimated ₹6 lakh crore investment.
State-run NTPC Limited is preparing to seek approval from India’s Department of Atomic Energy for a ₹56,000-crore nuclear power project in Bihar, marking the company’s first standalone venture into nuclear generation as the country expands atomic energy capacity to meet rising electricity demand.
The proposed project, to be developed in Bihar’s Banka district through NTPC Parmanu Urja Nigam Ltd, will initially include two 700-megawatt reactors and later expand to four units with a total capacity of 2.8 gigawatts, officials familiar with the matter said.
“The company will be submitting the completed feasibility study for the nuclear project in the state,” an official aware of the development said.
The project aligns with the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India, or SHANTI Bill, 2025, which allows companies and joint ventures to build, own and operate nuclear power plants in India.
Officials said NTPC has either completed or nearly completed feasibility studies for projects in Bihar and two other states and is expected to submit its findings to the Department of Atomic Energy soon.
India Accelerates Nuclear Expansion to Meet 2047 Goals
India is expanding nuclear generation as part of its long-term energy security strategy and broader transition toward non-fossil fuel power sources.
Industry estimates show that building one gigawatt of nuclear capacity requires an investment of about ₹20,000 crore. Based on those estimates, NTPC’s larger target of developing around 30 GW of nuclear capacity nationwide could require investments approaching ₹6 lakh crore over the coming decades.
“The standard capacity of NTPC’s nuclear power plants would be 2×700 MW. However, in Bihar, the company would look at expanding the proposed plant’s capacity to four units with 700 MW each,” a senior official said.
India currently operates 25 nuclear reactors across seven plants with an installed capacity of 8.88 GW, according to Central Electricity Authority data. Another 6,600 MW is under construction and targeted for commissioning by 2031-32, while an additional 7,000 MW remains in planning and approval stages.
Officials said an uninterrupted water supply remains a critical requirement for nuclear projects, with nearly five litres of water needed to generate one unit of nuclear electricity. The Bihar government has assured support for the proposed project, including water availability and land allocation. Preliminary estimates indicate the plant may require around 1,000 acres.
Under India’s approval process, the Standing Site Selection Committee under the Department of Atomic Energy reviews nuclear proposals before forwarding technically viable projects to the Atomic Energy Commission for further clearances.
Industry officials said nuclear plants generally require at least six years to complete after regulatory approvals are secured.
NTPC Expands Nuclear Partnerships Across India
NTPC is also exploring nuclear project opportunities in Jharkhand, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh as part of its broader nuclear roadmap.
The company is already developing the 4×700 MW Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project in Rajasthan through Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam Ltd, a joint venture with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited. The Rajasthan project involves an estimated investment of ₹42,000 crore.
NPCIL holds a 51% stake in the venture, while NTPC owns 49%. Future projects, however, are expected to be independently developed through NTPC Parmanu Urja Nigam Ltd, which was incorporated last year to lead the company’s nuclear expansion.
Last month, NTPC signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with EDF to explore cooperation on Nuclear Project development in India, including assessment of European Pressurised Reactor technology, localisation opportunities and tariff structures.
Established in 1975 as a thermal power producer, NTPC currently has group-level installed capacity of about 89,805 MW across coal, gas, hydro and renewable energy assets.
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