100GW of nuclear power by 2047: Inside PM Modi's energy self-reliance plan
In an Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the expansion of India's nuclear power program, setting a goal of achieving 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047. During the 80th Independence Day celebration at the Red Fort, the Prime Minister unveiled plans for five new nuclear reactors to come online during the current decade.
India has already made significant progress in nuclear energy, with the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu reaching criticality in April 2026. This marks India's entry into the second stage of its three-stage nuclear power program, following Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) that utilize natural uranium fuel.
The PFBR, a 500 MWe sodium-cooled fast breeder reactor, is designed to use plutonium-based fuel and breed additional fissile material. This technology is crucial for India's nuclear strategy, as the country has limited uranium resources but abundant thorium reserves. The PFBR will lay the foundation for the third stage of India's nuclear program, which aims to harness thorium to produce uranium-233 for power generation.
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