Possibility Of New Nuclear Plant In Gujarat Being Explored

A senior official from the Energy and Petrochemicals Department confirmed that after coal, gas, hydro, solar, and wind power projects, the state is now set to study potential sites for nuclear power plants. Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited (GSECL) has been entrusted with the consultancy work. The state’s Finance Department has already approved financial support to Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) for this initiative.

State Energy Minister Kanubhai Desai said, "Nuclear energy is one of the cleanest energy sources. The Government of India has recently emphasized the expansion of nuclear power capacity among various energy sources." 

The central government plans to increase the country’s nuclear power generation capacity from the current 7,480 MW to 22,480 MW by 2031-32. The decision to reassess nuclear power in Gujarat is part of India’s broader strategy to decarbonise the power sector and achieve Net Zero by 2070.

According to sources in the Energy Department, as of April 2025, 25 nuclear reactors are operational across eight power plants in India, with a total installed capacity of 8,880 MW. In FY 2024-25, nuclear energy produced 57 TWh (terawatt-hour), accounting for approximately 3 per cent of the country’s total electricity generation. 

Although India had planned to achieve 63 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2032, under an October 2010 roadmap, public protests following the Fukushima disaster in 2011 slowed progress. Major protests occurred in Jaitapur (Maharashtra) and Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu), while West Bengal rejected a large-scale nuclear project near Haripur.

India's First Indigenous Nuclear Plant Is In Gujarat

Meanwhile, India is advancing in the research to use thorium-based fuel, working on prototype designs and the development of reactors that use thorium, which is widely available in India, and a limited amount of uranium derived from the sea. 

These efforts are a core part of the nation’s three-stage nuclear power programme. India's first indigenously developed nuclear plant was commissioned at Kakrapar in Gujarat in the mid-1990s. On August 31, 2023, PM Modi hailed the launch of the third unit at the plant, with a 700 MW output, as a proud achievement of Indian scientists and engineers.

Two years ago, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) set a goal to establish 16 indigenous 700 MW PHWR (Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors) across the country. Approvals have already been granted for projects in Rawatbhata and Mahi Banswara (Rajasthan), Gorakhpur (Haryana), Chutka (Madhya Pradesh), and Kaiga (Karnataka).

Why Mithi Virdi Was Relocated

Currently, India has 25 operational nuclear units located in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat. Gujarat’s Kakrapar plant began commercial operations in May 1993, with subsequent units commissioned in 1995, 2023, and 2024. 

Notably, a proposal for six nuclear units totalling 6,000 MW, was earlier prepared for Mithi Virdi in Bhavnagar. However, due to public opposition and delays in land acquisition that have been going on for over a decade, the project was relocated to Kovvada in Andhra Pradesh.

Potential Sites For Nuclear Plants In Gujarat

Four areas are under consideration as potential sites for new nuclear power plants in India. They are the following:

Mandvi & Mundra (Kutch coastal region): Positives include proximity to the Arabian Sea, low population density, and ample land. However, it's in seismic zone-5, necessitating earthquake-resistant designs. Potential threats include ecological risks to coastal ecosystems.

Pipavav & Porbandar (Saurashtra coast): Positives include existing ports and industrial development. Rural areas have low population density, and water availability is good. However, the areas fall in seismic zone-4, and some regions may face water scarcity.

Bharuch & Valsad (south Gujarat): Positives include location near rivers Narmada and Tapi, with robust industrial and transportation infrastructure. However, these are densely-populated areas, and land acquisition and environmental clearance could be challenging.

Ghogha & Mahuva (near Bhavnagar): Among positives is that the areas are coastal, with low population and limited industrial activity. Industrial corridors are developing near the Gulf of Khambhat. Studies have been commissioned to assess how a nuclear plant could be affected by the region's saline soil, or how the plant could affect the marine environment.

The state government considers Mundra, Pipavav, Dahej, and Bharuch as the most promising sites due to industrial development, proximity to the sea, and strong electricity infrastructure. The appointed government agency will study these, as well as other potential sites across the state, and submit a detailed report.