Karwar: In a significant boost to India’s nuclear power ambitions under the Centre’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, construction of Units 5 and 6 at the Kaiga Atomic Power Station was formally launched on Sunday with the first concrete pour for the reactor buildings.
The new units, each with a capacity of 700 megawatts, will feature Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) developed entirely using indigenous technology. Officials said the project marks a major milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen domestic capabilities in nuclear energy production.
Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India and Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, Ajit Kumar Mohanty, along with senior officials, performed a special puja before inaugurating the construction works. Addressing the gathering, Mohanty said the target is to complete and commission both units within 60 months.
B. Vinod Kumar, Site Director of the Kaiga unit, stated that the 700 MW reactors have been fully indigenised under the Make in India programme. He noted that the Centre has approved similar fleet-mode projects in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Karnataka, and that the deployment of these fully indigenous reactors marks a first of its kind initiative.
Under the previous agreement, Karnataka received 20 per cent of the power generated from the Kaiga station. However, officials confirmed that under the new project framework, the State’s share will increase to 50 per cent, providing a substantial boost to its energy security.
At present, the total installed capacity at Kaiga stands at 880 MW. Once Units 5 and 6 become operational, the overall generation capacity will rise to 2,280 MW, significantly enhancing the region’s power output.
The project is being implemented by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). Its Chairman and Managing Director, Bhuwan Chandra Pathak, said the corporation is preparing to add an additional 7,000 MW capacity in Karnataka in the coming years. He emphasised that expanding nuclear generation remains a key objective to meet rising energy demand while ensuring low-carbon power production.
With the launch of the new units, Kaiga is set to emerge as one of the country’s major nuclear power hubs, reinforcing India’s long-term strategy for sustainable and self-reliant energy development.
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