Odisha Opens Door to Nuclear Power, Six Sites Under Study
The nuclear push in Odisha comes against the backdrop of the Centre's ambitious plans to expand India's nuclear power capacity. The country currently has 24 nuclear power reactors with a combined capacity of 8,780 MW operating commercially
Bhubaneswar: Odisha has opened the door to nuclear power generation, with the state government giving in-principle approval to National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Adani Power to undertake feasibility studies at six locations for possible nuclear power projects, even as a proposal from Tata Power remains under consideration.
The move, according to industry experts, could mark a significant shift in Odisha's long-term energy strategy, with the state exploring nuclear power alongside its existing thermal, hydropower and renewable energy capacity.
Adani Power alone has proposed two nuclear projects with a combined capacity of 5,600 MW, besides plans for thermal and pumped-storage projects involving an overall investment proposal of around Rs 1.5 lakh crore.
However, the government has stressed that the proposals are still at a preliminary stage. No site has received final approval for setting up a nuclear power plant, and the suitability of the locations will be determined only after detailed technical, environmental and safety assessments.
Deputy Chief Minister and energy minister K.V. Singh Deo informed the Odisha Assembly on Wednesday, replying to an unstarred question from MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain, that NTPC had been permitted to conduct feasibility studies at four locations in the state.
Of these, NTPC has selected a site near Deogarh for further action. The other two locations identified for study are near the Balimela Dam in Malkangiri district and the Manjore Dam in Angul district, where Adani Power has received in-principle approval to examine the sites.
The state government has received proposals from three major power companies — NTPC, Adani Power and Tata Power — for nuclear power projects.
Tata Power has expressed interest in setting up a nuclear power plant in Malkangiri. Depending on the reactor configuration, the company has identified Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat as potential states for projects of either 440 MW (2x220 MW) or 1,400 MW (2x700 MW) capacity.
Adani Power's proposal is more ambitious. The company has proposed two nuclear projects of 2,800 MW each, taking the proposed nuclear generation capacity to 5,600 MW. Its wider investment proposal, submitted to the state government, also includes thermal and pumped-storage power projects.
An Adani Power delegation met the energy minister on July 30 and discussed its investment plans for Odisha.
The proposed sites near reservoirs are significant because conventional nuclear reactors require substantial quantities of water for cooling. Balimela already has a 510 MW hydropower station operated by the Odisha Hydro Power Corporation, besides the existing reservoir and associated power infrastructure.
Energy analyst Anand Mahapatra said the availability of a large water body was an important consideration for conventional nuclear power plants because reactors generate considerable heat and require reliable cooling arrangements.
But water availability alone would not determine the suitability of a site, he said. Geological conditions, seismic vulnerability, hydrology, environmental considerations, population density, emergency preparedness and other nuclear safety parameters would have to be assessed before a location could be cleared.
The nuclear push in Odisha comes against the backdrop of the Centre's ambitious plans to expand India's nuclear power capacity. The country currently has 24 nuclear power reactors with a combined capacity of 8,780 MW operating commercially.
