Mumbai: The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has approved the First Pour of Concrete (FPC) for the construction of Units 5 and 6 of the Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant, marking a significant milestone in the expansion of India’s nuclear energy capacity.
In a statement issued from Mumbai, AERB confirmed that it granted permission for the First Pour of Concrete (FPC) for Units 5 and 6 of the Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant on February 24, 2026.
The approval was issued following the satisfactory completion of a detailed safety review of the design of the 2x700MWe Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) units being established at the Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant site.
The review assessed compliance against safety requirements specified by AERB. The evaluation process followed AERB’s well-established multi-tier review framework.
The Board of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, after reviewing the outcome of the safety assessments on February 23, 2026, approved the First Pour of Concrete for the Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant Units 5 and 6.
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Commenting on the development, A K Balasubrahmanian, Chairman of AERB, stated, “AERB’s permission for Kaiga -5&6 follows an extensive review to ensure compliance to safety and regulatory requirements and paves the path for construction of nuclear power plant based on approved design, safety analysis and following the requisite quality assurance requirements”.
Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant: Indigenous 700 MWe PHWR Design
The 700MWe PHWRs being constructed at the Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant are of indigenous design, developed by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL).
The design incorporates advanced safety features aligned with requirements specified by AERB and takes into account the current safety standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The 700 MWe PHWR units at the Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant (Units 5 and 6) are similar in design to Units 3 and 4 of Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) in Gujarat, which were earlier licensed by AERB for regular operation in July 2025.
Additionally, two more 700 MWe PHWR units — RAPP-7 and RAPP-8 — are currently undergoing commissioning at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP) site in Rajasthan. AERB had earlier permitted operation of RAPP Unit 7 up to 100% power for commissioning on January 30, 2026.
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Kaiga Site in Karnataka
The Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant is located in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, where four units of 220MWe PHWRs are already operational.
The approval for the First Pour of Concrete signifies the formal commencement of construction of the new nuclear power plant units following site excavation activities.
With the AERB clearance for FPC, the Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant Units 5 and 6 now move into the construction phase in accordance with approved design parameters, safety analysis, and quality assurance requirements.
