A coastal site where a nuclear power project was abandoned 15 years ago could find new life as Reliance Industries explores a major investment in West Bengal.
Reliance Industries has reportedly proposed developing a nuclear power plant at Haripur, a coastal village near Contai in West Bengal’s East Midnapore district. According to The Telegraph, state officials estimate that the project could attract investment of up to $20 billion, potentially making it one of the largest private-sector investments in India’s emerging nuclear power industry.
The proposal emerged during meetings between senior Reliance executives and West Bengal government officials, including Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal. The discussions reportedly covered several other potential investments, including hotels, a modern data center and a coal gasification facility.
Reviving a Long-Abandoned Nuclear Site
Haripur has an interesting history. Approximately 15 years ago, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) had proposed a nuclear power project at the same location, but the plan was eventually shelved. According to state officials quoted by The Telegraph, approximately 2,000 acres of land had already been identified for the earlier project. NPCIL had completed extensive site investigations, including seismic, geotechnical, hydrological, oceanographic, meteorological, demographic and environmental studies. This earlier groundwork could give Reliance a significant head start.
Rather than beginning the lengthy site-selection process from scratch, Reliance could potentially benefit from the technical studies already undertaken. However, any new project would still require applicable regulatory approvals, updated assessments and clearance from India’s nuclear authorities.
A Potential Turning Point for Private Nuclear Investment
Reliance’s reported interest comes as India explores a larger role for private investment in nuclear power generation to meet growing electricity demand and support its long-term clean energy ambitions. The proposed investment would also fit into Reliance’s broader interests in energy infrastructure and data centers, which require large quantities of reliable electricity.
For West Bengal, reviving Haripur could represent a major industrial investment opportunity in a state that has long languished under the previous state government.
