en.Wedoany.com Reported - Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam Ltd (ASHVINI), a joint venture between India's National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), has issued a tender for the nuclear island portion of the proposed Mahi Banswara nuclear power plant in Rajasthan. The tender contract is valued at INR 280 billion and covers the nuclear island's large-scale engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) package, including key components such as reactor buildings, nuclear structures, heavy water upgrading plants, water systems, and waste management facilities.
The successful contractor will be responsible for the engineering, design, supply, civil construction, installation, testing, commissioning, and subsequent operation and maintenance of the package. The project will involve the construction of four indigenous pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs), each with a capacity of 700 megawatts, totaling an installed capacity of 2,800 megawatts. The tender scope requires the delivery of major civil and specialized mechanical engineering works integral to India's indigenous PHWR program.
This project holds special significance as it will be the first nuclear power plant in India not wholly owned by NPCIL. Currently, NPCIL owns all of India's operational nuclear power capacity, totaling 8.8 gigawatts. NPCIL stated that this package is the largest nuclear island EPC contract issued under India's indigenous PHWR program, covering all major engineering works required for four reactors. The central government views this expansion as a means to enhance energy security and reduce carbon emissions.
The government has set a target of achieving 100 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity by 2047, and this tender is part of efforts to expand domestic construction and supplier participation. The tender was issued on Thursday, seeking contractors with experience in delivering large-scale nuclear islands. In fiscal year 2024-25, India's nuclear power plants generated 56.681 billion units, accounting for 3.1% of the country's total electricity generation.
Additionally, NTPC has signed a memorandum of understanding with Électricité de France to explore cooperation on nuclear power projects in India, demonstrating interest in international partnerships for technology and project development support. The tender documents emphasize requirements for end-to-end delivery under India's indigenous PHWR program, as well as long-term operation and maintenance.
