NTPC seeks government approval for ₹1.5 trillion six-reactor nuclear partnership with Rosatom

NTPC Ltd has submitted a proposal to the Indian government to take over the six nuclear reactors still pending under the 2014 India-Russia agreement, offering to build Rosatom’s VVER-1000 plants with a total capital outlay of roughly ₹1.5 trillion. The plan would reassign the remaining capacity, currently slated for NPCIL, to NTPC, which aims to expand its nuclear portfolio to 30 GW by 2047 and has earmarked locations in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha for 2-4 GW each.

NPCIL confirmed that two of the Kudankulam units are operational and four are under construction, eventually reaching 6 GW at the site, but said it has no input on NTPC’s request. Industry estimates place nuclear construction costs at ₹25 crore per megawatt, matching the projected expense for the 6 GW project. The move reflects NTPC’s strategy to diversify into clean baseload power as coal declines, while state-to-state deals remain the preferred route for foreign nuclear partners under the Shanti Act. NTPC is also exploring other international collaborations, including an MoU with EDF, and the government’s nuclear policy emphasizes both large indigenous reactors and small modular designs.