Indian Government Approves INR 133.55 Billion Equity Funding for 6 Nuclear Power Projects Under Construction

To advance nuclear power construction and meet growing electricity demand, the Indian central government has approved equity funding of INR 133.55 billion (approximately RMB 13.355 billion) for six nuclear power projects under construction, with all funds fully disbursed. This information was disclosed by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Atomic Energy, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

Singh noted that multiple technical, supply chain, and global situation factors have caused project delays: significant design modifications required under new safety standards following the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan; delays in supply of critical equipment; and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on construction progress. In addition, disrupted equipment supplies from Russia, financial difficulties faced by contractors after the pandemic, complex geological conditions, and a shortage of skilled workers have also slowed project momentum. The Russia-Ukraine conflict and ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia have further affected supply chains.

To address the delays, the Department of Atomic Energy and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) are conducting high-level reviews of the projects, requiring officials to continuously track progress and resolve issues promptly, while holding regular meetings with suppliers to accelerate construction. Additional powers have been delegated to officials, and board-level subcommittees have been established to strengthen oversight. For future projects, the government has adopted a "fleet mode" bulk ordering strategy, coordinating in advance the procurement and supply of equipment needed for multiple reactors to prevent supply chain shortages. Once all six projects under construction are fully commissioned, they will add a total of 8,000 MW of nuclear power capacity to the Indian national grid, contributing to clean energy goals and enhancing baseload power supply capability.