L&T and the Case for Private Nuclear Participation
Larsen & Toubro’s chairman has called for private sector participation across India’s nuclear value chain, from mining to fuel processing and plant construction. The statement has reignited debate on whether India’s atomic energy ambitions can be met without loosening the state’s monopoly.
India’s current nuclear capacity remains modest at 8.7GW, far below targets. Projects have long suffered delays due to financing, technology lock-ins, and limited public sector capacity. By contrast, global leaders like EDF, Rosatom, and KEPCO rely heavily on private contractors for scale and efficiency. L&T, with decades of engineering experience, argues that excluding private firms is stifling innovation and slowing execution.
The appeal comes as NTPC has partnered NPCIL for a new project...