Maharashtra Seeks US Partnership In Nuclear Energy Projects

Speaking at a meeting organised under the “US Nuclear Executive Mission to India” by the Nuclear Energy Institute and the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, Mr. Fadnavis said the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, data centres, semiconductors, green hydrogen, electric mobility and advanced manufacturing would significantly increase demand for uninterrupted and reliable electricity in the coming years.

The Chief Minister met an executive delegation from the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), led by NEI President and CEO Maria Grace Korsnick. The delegation included representatives from Centrus Energy, Clean Core Thorium Energy, Curtiss-Wright Corporation, Edlow International and Holtec Asia, among others.

Mr. Fadnavis said major changes were taking place globally in the energy transition process. “For many years, it was believed that renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power alone would solve future energy challenges. However, with increasing industrialisation and the growth of the digital economy, the need for stable and continuous power generation is now being strongly felt,” he said.

While Maharashtra was making significant investments in solar and wind energy, nuclear power would be essential for ensuring carbon-free and industrial-scale baseload power supply, he added.

The Chief Minister said Maharashtra, with a $660 billion economy, attracted more than 40 per cent of India’s total foreign investment. He claimed that nearly 60 per cent of the country’s data centre capacity was concentrated in the Mumbai and Navi Mumbai region, and electricity demand was expected to rise sharply due to growth in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, logistics and advanced manufacturing sectors.

Mr. Fadnavis also highlighted recent developments in India-US civil nuclear energy cooperation, including private sector participation, reforms under the “SHANTI” framework, technology transfer and industrial collaboration. “India is expected to become one of the fastest-growing countries in terms of electricity demand over the coming decades, and Maharashtra will emerge as its largest industrial driver,” he said.

Speaking to reporters later, Mr. Fadnavis said many developed nations relied heavily on nuclear energy, claiming that nearly 49 per cent of electricity generation in the United States came from nuclear sources. “If we want clean energy, we will have to bring nuclear energy at the baseload level,” he said.

The CM said the Centre had prepared the “SHANTI” framework — Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India — to allow civilian use of nuclear energy, adding that Maharashtra had already signed four agreements for projects with a combined capacity of 25,000 MW in the sector.

Mr. Fadnavis also said the US Consulate had brought a delegation of around 25 American global nuclear power and manufacturing companies to Maharashtra after holding a conclave in New Delhi. “We presented Maharashtra’s future plans in the nuclear energy sector before them. They have also shown interest in investing in the sector,” he said.