Larsen & Toubro’s Heavy Civil Infrastructure business has received an order from Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) for work on the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project units 5 and 6 in Tamil Nadu. The contract covers two units of 1000 MWe each.
The scope of work includes installation of the nuclear reactor and turbine systems with generator and condenser, sea water systems, polar and trestle cranes, and related equipment. It also covers accessories, piping, supports, structural steelwork, painting, anti-corrosion coating, insulation, and full testing across multiple buildings and structures at the site.
The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project is India’s largest nuclear power station, located in Kudankulam, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu. It has been developed in technical collaboration between the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Russia’s Atomstroyexport, and is based on Russian VVER-1000 pressurised water reactors. The total planned installed capacity is 6,000 MW across six units, of which Units 1 and 2, each with a capacity of 1,000 MW, are operational, while four more units are under construction or planned.
Unit 1 has been in commercial operation since December 2014, while Unit 2 commenced commercial generation in October 2016. Construction of Units 3 and 4 began in 2017, with commissioning originally scheduled for 2023–2024, and work continues on their major reactor components. Construction of Units 5 and 6 started in 2021, and commissioning is expected during 2026–2027.
The project is designed to provide 6,000 MW of nuclear power generation capacity. It contributes around 30 percent of India’s total operating nuclear generation capacity, with each unit at 1,000 MW, compared to most other Indian reactors that range between 200 MW and 700 MW. Half of the power produced is allocated to Tamil Nadu, with the remainder distributed to Karnataka, Kerala, and Puducherry, while any unallocated portion is supplied to the central grid.
Costs for Units 1 and 2 rose from INR 131.71 billion to INR 224.62 billion by 2014, while Units 3 to 6 have been budgeted at about INR 1.1 trillion in total. Russian funding and supply agreements have played a key role in supporting the project.
The VVER-1000 reactors installed at Kudankulam incorporate modern safety features, including active and passive heat removal, core catchers, and hydrogen recombiners. The project has faced delays due to local protests, regulatory requirements, and cost escalations arising from technology and safety upgrades.
Rosatom is the Russian technology supplier for the project, while NPCIL has overseen the Indian side of development. Indian contractors, including Larsen & Toubro, have been engaged for civil works and related packages. The project has been positioned as a major element of India–Russia civil nuclear cooperation, with ongoing expansion expected to secure its role in India’s nuclear power sector through the current decade.
Larsen & Toubro is a USD 30 billion Indian multinational engaged in engineering, procurement and construction projects, hi-tech manufacturing, and services, with operations across several geographies.
