Gujarat Eyes Second Nuclear Power Project at Dhuvaran

Vadodara: The Centre is examining the feasibility of setting up a new nuclear power project at Dhuvaran in Anand district, potentially giving Gujarat a second nuclear power project if the site clears the required technical and safety assessments.

The proposed project, a joint venture between the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Gujarat State Electricity Company Limited (GSECL), could have an installed generation capacity of either 4,200 MW or 7,000 MW, with an estimated capital investment of ₹1.25 lakh crore to ₹2.25 lakh crore.

A team from the Central Government recently visited the Dhuvaran site as part of the preliminary assessment. The project is yet to receive a formal announcement, as the Centre is carrying out the necessary technical and feasibility checks.

The proposed site has a major advantage in terms of land availability. Around 1,100 acres at Dhuvaran, located along the Mahisagar River in Anand district, is already owned by GSECL. This could significantly simplify the land acquisition process if the project moves ahead. The proposed joint venture is expected to have a 50:50 shareholding between the central and state entities.

Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) and the State Energy Department have submitted the required information to the Centre for evaluating the site. The assessment will examine several parameters considered critical for a nuclear power plant, including seismological conditions, geotechnical characteristics and the availability of water for reactor cooling. The Mahisagar River could provide a potential source of cooling water.

A high-level committee has also been constituted by the Gujarat Government to coordinate the feasibility exercise for the proposed ultra-mega nuclear power project. The committee has already held two meetings to discuss various technical and other parameters associated with the project.

According to the proposal, nuclear power generation requires an investment of around ₹35 crore per MW. The project is being considered in view of Gujarat’s growing electricity requirements, particularly as several major industrial and infrastructure projects are expected to increase demand in the coming years.

Gujarat currently has an operational 1,840 MW nuclear power project at Kakrapar in Tapi district. The proposed Dhuvaran project, if approved, would significantly expand the state’s nuclear power generation capacity.

At the national level, India currently has about 8.8 GW of installed nuclear power capacity across 24 operational reactors. The Centre has set a target of increasing nuclear power capacity to 22 GW by 2031-32 and 100 GW by 2047. DeshGujarat