New Delhi: In a bold flex of industrial muscle, the Adani Group has thrown its hat into the atomic ring, declaring its intent to construct nuclear power plants across India should the government greenlight private sector involvement through a public-private partnership (PPP) framework.
The announcement, made just a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi hinted at liberalising the heavily regulated sector, signals a significant shift towards strengthening the nation’s energy fortress.
Adani executives minced no words: “If foreign giants like France’s EDF can erect reactors on Indian soil, why can’t homegrown titans step up?” They posited, spotlighting the need for crystal-clear liability laws to unshackle private capital.
With India’s nuclear output languishing at a mere 3% of total power generation — dwarfed by coal’s dominance — this infusion could boost self-reliance, slash import bills, and fuel the green transition.
What is the group’s ambitious plan? A whopping ₹1.57 lakh crore capital outlay, blending ₹90,000 crore in debt with internal accruals and equity infusions. CFO Jugeshinder Robby Singh elaborated on the financial firepower: “We’ve already sunk ₹80,000 crore into capex; the rest —₹36,000 crore from within and ₹44,000 crore externally — will seal the deal.”
This war chest, honed by Adani’s ports-to-power empire, positions it as a frontrunner in what could be a trillion-dollar atomic renaissance.
Modi’s overture at a recent energy conclave painted a vision of “unleashing private prowess” to hit 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047, up from today’s 8 GW. Yet, sceptics whisper of regulatory minefields — safety protocols, waste management, and geopolitical strings attached to tech transfers. Adani faces a significant challenge: mastering the atom, or risk losing out to rivals. As policy drafts simmer, India’s energy chessboard just got electrifyingly complex.