New Delhi: India has set an ambitious target to scale up its nuclear power capacity to at least 100 GW by 2047, coinciding with the centenary of independence, as part of its long-term plan to strengthen energy security and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, according to a new report.
A report by Khaleej Times states that India currently operates 24 nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of 8,780 MWe (megawatt electric), while eight additional reactors with a capacity of 6,028 MWe are under construction.
Government projections suggest installed nuclear capacity will rise to around 22 GW by the early 2030s before accelerating sharply to reach the 100 GW goal.
To achieve this more than eleven-fold expansion, India is pursuing a dual strategy involving large-scale reactors and small modular systems. This includes indigenous 700 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), imported large-capacity reactors at greenfield sites, as well as smaller designs such as 200 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactors (BSMRs) and 55 MWe SMR-55 units, the report said.
A key milestone in this roadmap was reached on April 6, 2026, when the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu achieved first criticality, marking the start of a controlled nuclear fission chain reaction.
The development is seen as a major step forward in advancing indigenous nuclear technology and ensuring long-term fuel sustainability.
India’s nuclear programme follows a three-stage strategy aimed at optimising limited uranium resources while utilising its vast thorium reserves. The first stage uses PHWRs fuelled by natural uranium to produce plutonium. The second stage involves fast breeder reactors that use plutonium as fuel while generating more fissile material than they consume. The final stage focuses on thorium-based reactors that produce uranium-233 for long-term sustainable nuclear energy.
According to the report, the PFBR uses uranium-plutonium mixed oxide (MOX) fuel and liquid sodium as coolant, enabling it to generate more fuel than it consumes and paving the way for thorium-based systems in the future.
The 500 MWe reactor can supply electricity to around half a million homes.
With IANS inputs