New Delhi: India will lay the foundation stone for the Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (MBRAPP) on September 25, marking a major step in its plan to expand nuclear power capacity to 100 GW by 2047, said a statement on Friday.
The project, located in Banswara district of Rajasthan, will comprise four indigenously developed 700 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) with a total capacity of 2,800 MW. It is being developed by Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam Limited (ASHVINI), a joint venture between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) and NTPC Ltd.
The project entails an investment of about Rs 42,000 crore. The government said the first unit is expected to be commissioned by 2031, with the remaining units to follow in phases.
Currently, India has 8.8 GW of installed nuclear capacity. The commissioning of MBRAPP is expected to significantly boost the share of nuclear power in the country’s generation mix, which is being expanded as part of the government’s clean energy transition strategy.
The project is expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, while also spurring socio-economic development in Banswara through improved infrastructure. Officials said the use of indigenously designed PHWR technology underscores India’s growing self-reliance in the nuclear sector.
The government has also allocated about Rs 20,000 crore in the recent Union Budget to support the expansion of nuclear capacity. Nuclear power is being positioned as a critical pillar of India’s energy transition, valued for its low emissions and ability to provide reliable baseload electricity alongside renewables.
With nuclear capacity expansion, India aims to strengthen its energy security and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The 100 GW nuclear target by 2047 is part of the broader goal to achieve a sustainable, low-carbon energy system, with MBRAPP serving as a key milestone on this path.
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