NTPC nuclear feasibility: DAE nod for 2 GW by 2032

What NTPC is submitting to the DAE

NTPC is preparing to submit its first completed feasibility study for a nuclear power project to the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), according to sources cited by PTI. The company will seek the DAE’s approval to move ahead with the plan. A nod from the DAE would be a key step for NTPC to begin work on its first standalone nuclear project in India. The development comes as NTPC expands beyond its legacy thermal-heavy portfolio and builds a larger non-fossil power mix. Nuclear is being positioned as one leg of that diversification, alongside renewables and hydro. The company’s near-term nuclear ambition, as reported, is to achieve at least 2 GW of nuclear capacity by 2032. The feasibility submission is also being framed as groundwork for a larger pipeline of nuclear projects across multiple states.

Why the DAE approval matters for execution

In India’s nuclear sector, progress from early-stage exploration to execution depends heavily on clearances and institutional approvals. NTPC’s plan to seek DAE approval signals that at least one feasibility study has been completed to a stage ready for formal review. The approval would allow the PSU to move forward from feasibility assessment to subsequent steps, including preparing a detailed project report (DPR) where applicable. Sources indicated that NTPC has completed a feasibility study in one state. At the same time, it is undertaking feasibility studies in two additional states. The DAE nod is therefore not just a procedural milestone but a gate to initiate a standalone nuclear build under NTPC’s own framework, separate from its existing joint venture efforts.

Bihar’s Banka district joins NTPC’s nuclear site list

A recent addition to NTPC’s feasibility pipeline is Bihar. The Energy Department of the Bihar government has given its support for NTPC to conduct a feasibility study for a nuclear project in Banka district, sources told PTI. Banka is located about 250 km from Patna, and the study is currently underway. If the project progresses beyond feasibility, planning would move to the DPR stage after the assessment determines viability. A government official cited in PTI reports said the state has assured support for the project, including water availability, which is critical for nuclear power plants. The proposed site is also associated with a land requirement estimate of around 1,000 acres.

What NTPC is studying: two 700 MW units as a template

Across the states being explored, NTPC is looking at a repeatable unit configuration. A source said NTPC is considering, on average, at least two units of 700 MW each in the states under evaluation. In Bihar’s Banka, the stated plan is two 700 MW nuclear units, taking the proposed capacity addition to 1.4 GW at that location. The project remains at the feasibility stage, and the DPR is expected only after the feasibility report is completed. This sequencing matters for investors tracking capex visibility because the feasibility stage does not lock in final project cost, timelines, or contracting strategy. Still, the unit sizing provides an early indicator of the scale NTPC is evaluating.

Investment estimates and what has been disclosed so far

For the Banka proposal, preliminary estimates cited in reports place the investment at around Rs 25,000 crore. A separate report also expresses this as INR250 billion (USD3 billion), which is equivalent to about Rs 25,000 crore. Industry estimates cited alongside the report suggest that setting up 1 GW of nuclear capacity typically requires an investment of Rs 15,000 to 20,000 crore, and may take at least three years from concept to commissioning. These figures are presented as broad estimates rather than project-specific commitments. For NTPC’s Rajasthan nuclear work with NPCIL, the reported investment is around Rs 42,000 crore, also referenced as INR420 billion (USD4.5 billion). Together, these numbers frame the likely capital intensity of NTPC’s nuclear buildout.

NTPC’s wider nuclear ambition: 30 GW and India’s 2047 target

Beyond individual sites, NTPC has articulated a larger nuclear roadmap. As part of its energy diversification strategy, the company is looking to set up 30 GW of nuclear projects across at least 14 states, with investments described as “lakhs of crores.” This planned pipeline is aligned with India’s stated ambition of achieving 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047. NTPC has also been reported as targeting a 30 percent share of the proposed national nuclear capacity by 2047, translating to 30 GW. In addition, NTPC aims to achieve at least 2 GW of nuclear capacity by 2032, as cited by PTI sources. These targets place nuclear as a long-duration buildout theme rather than a near-term capacity driver.

How this fits into NTPC’s broader capacity transition plan

NTPC has separately communicated its wider power system goals through Energy Compact commitments. The company has announced a commitment to install 60 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2032. It has also said that by 2032 it is set to become a 149 GW power company, complemented by 1 GW of pumped storage (PSP) and 22 GWh of battery energy storage (BESS). In its projected mix, non-fossil-fuel based sources including hydro, renewables, and nuclear are expected to make up about 44% of capacity. Renewable energy, including hydro, is projected to contribute about 43.4% to the overall mix, while nuclear energy is mentioned as being added with 0.7 GW capacity. These disclosed mix targets sit alongside the separate, longer runway nuclear ambition of reaching at least 2 GW by 2032, as reported by sources.

Existing nuclear execution: JV pathway already underway in Rajasthan

NTPC is not starting from zero in nuclear. In the nuclear space, it is presently setting up a nuclear project in a joint venture with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) in Rajasthan, with an investment of about Rs 42,000 crore. NTPC has also formalised its nuclear foray through Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam Ltd (ASHVINI), its JV with NPCIL, and through a wholly owned subsidiary, NTPC Parmanu Urja Nigam Ltd (NPUNL). Currently, ASHVINI is involved in the installation of the 2,800 MW Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (MBRAPP) in Rajasthan. This JV-led execution provides a parallel track to the standalone project that NTPC is now preparing to advance through DAE approval.

Key facts at a glance

Market impact and what investors typically track next

The immediate market relevance of this update is visibility on the project pipeline and the sequence of regulatory milestones, rather than near-term earnings impact. A feasibility study submission to the DAE indicates internal progress toward a standalone nuclear asset, which could expand NTPC’s non-fossil portfolio over time. For the Banka proposal, investors will likely track completion of the feasibility report, movement toward the DPR, and any subsequent disclosures on site readiness such as land availability and water arrangements, both of which were referenced in the reports. Capex discipline and project structure are also central, given the reported Rs 25,000 crore estimate for the Bihar project and Rs 42,000 crore investment for the Rajasthan JV project. The broader theme is alignment with India’s 2047 nuclear capacity target, where NTPC is positioning itself for a significant share. Any timeline guidance beyond the reported feasibility and DPR sequencing would typically require formal project-level announcements.

Conclusion

NTPC’s planned submission of its first completed nuclear feasibility study to the DAE marks a concrete step toward a standalone nuclear project in India. In parallel, the company is widening its site evaluation, with Bihar’s Banka district now under feasibility assessment for two 700 MW units backed by state support on water availability. The next visible milestones are the DAE’s response, completion of ongoing feasibility studies in other states, and preparation of DPRs where projects clear initial viability checks. Separately, NTPC’s existing nuclear execution through the NPCIL joint venture in Rajasthan and ASHVINI’s involvement in the 2,800 MW MBRAPP project remain key reference points for how the company may scale nuclear capacity toward its stated 2032 and 2047 targets.