ASHVINI Invites Bids For ₹28,000 Crore Mahi Banswara Nuclear Project

Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam Ltd (ASHVINI), the joint venture between state-owned NTPC Ltd and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), has invited bids for the construction of the key nuclear section of the proposed 2,800 MW Mahi Banswara Nuclear Power Plant in Rajasthan.

The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract is valued at more than ₹28,000 crore, making it the largest nuclear island EPC package floated under India's indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) programme.

The tender covers the Nuclear Island Mega EPC package, which includes the reactor building, nuclear structures, heavy water upgrading plant, water systems and waste management facilities. The nuclear island houses the reactor and other critical systems that form the heart of a nuclear power plant.

What Does The EPC Contract Cover?

The company chosen through the bidding process will handle the project from start to finish. Its responsibilities include designing the facilities, supplying equipment, carrying out civil works, installing the systems, testing them, and supporting commissioning before taking up operation and maintenance of the package.

The Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project will have four 700 MW indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), giving the plant a total generation capacity of 2.8 GW.

Industry executives expect the tender to open up substantial business opportunities for engineering, manufacturing and construction firms that supply equipment and services to India's nuclear power sector.

Why Is The Project Significant?

The Mahi Banswara project marks a milestone for India's nuclear power industry as it will be the country's first nuclear power plant that is not wholly owned by NPCIL. Until now, India's entire operational nuclear power capacity of around 8.8 GW has been owned by NPCIL.

NPCIL said the package covers all major works required for the four reactors and represents the biggest Nuclear Island EPC contract issued under the country's indigenous PHWR programme.

The project also aligns with the centre's plans to expand nuclear energy generation to improve energy security, reduce carbon emissions and strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities.

Nuclear power plants generated 56,681 million units of electricity during 2024-25, accounting for 3.1% of India's total electricity generation. The government currently aims to raise installed nuclear power capacity to 22.38 GW by 2031-32 through additional indigenous 700 MW PHWRs and 1,000 MW reactors developed under international partnerships. Over the longer term, India has set an ambitious target of achieving 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047.

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