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Mahi-Banswara Nuclear Project Gains Momentum with AERB Site Approval and FAC Review

India’s nuclear expansion drive has taken a key step forward with the 2800 MWe Mahi-Banswara Nuclear Power Plant (MBRAPP) in Rajasthan receiving siting consent from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) on May 9. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) has now moved a proposal to the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) seeking clearance for significant land use changes, including the diversion of over 45 hectares of forest land—up from the initially planned 27 hectares—for essential infrastructure.

The Mahi-Banswara project comprises four units of 700 MWe Indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) and is part of India’s “fleet mode reactor program,” aimed at rapidly scaling up clean, indigenous nuclear capacity. The project is expected to be commissioned by May 2030 and will span 660 hectares near the Mahi-Bajajsagar reservoir, with land acquisition from both private and government sources posing challenges.

Importantly, MBRAPP is among the first nuclear projects being executed by ASHVINI, a joint venture between NTPC and NPCIL, enabled by an amendment to the Atomic Energy Act in 2015 allowing broader public sector participation in nuclear development. Transferred from NPCIL to ASHVINI in September 2024, the plant is expected to offer competitive tariffs in line with northern India’s thermal power stations, marking a significant stride in India’s pursuit of clean and secure energy. The FAC is expected to deliberate on the clearance in its May 26 meeting.