Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for greater investment in nuclear power to meet India’s rising electricity demand from AI and data centres. Speaking in Bengaluru on Friday, he said, "To achieve clean energy, India is also increasing the number of its nuclear power plants." He also inaugurated three infrastructure projects.
He also linked energy security to renewable and decentralised power
India's ambitions in artificial intelligence (AI), data centres, semiconductor manufacturing and quantum computing will require a significant expansion in electricity supply, prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to call for greater investment in nuclear power to meet the country's growing energy needs.
India's AI and data centre expansion is expected to add an estimated 26.3 GW of electricity load by FY32, with total data centre capacity projected to reach 8-10 GW by 2030.
"India is moving forward with the aim of achieving leadership in new technologies. For this, the country must have adequate electricity. To achieve clean energy, India is also increasing the number of its nuclear power plants," Modi said while addressing a rally in Bengaluru on Friday.
India's renewable energy capacity had crossed 300 GW, the Prime Minister said, highlighting the government's efforts to expand nuclear power generation alongside renewable energy to meet rising electricity demand.
He also linked energy security to geopolitical developments in West Asia, particularly the conflict involving Iran and Gulf countries, and said investments made over the past decade had helped India withstand external disruptions.
"War around Iran and Gulf countries shows how important energy security is. Steps taken for energy security in the last decade helped the country face the crisis with resilience," he said.
Modi also inaugurated three energy infrastructure projects in Karnataka, saying they would strengthen the country's energy security. These include an LPG storage facility in Bengaluru, which will add 80,000 tonnes to the country's storage capacity; the MRPL Devangonthi Marketing Terminal, aimed at streamlining the supply of petrol, diesel and aviation fuel; and a compressed biogas (CBG) plant in Bengaluru with a production capacity of 13 tonnes a day.
The CBG plant will help improve waste management while reducing India's dependence on imported natural gas, he said.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the role of decentralised renewable energy in reducing dependence on conventional electricity sources. More than 60 lakh households across the country, including over 40,000 in Karnataka, have installed rooftop solar systems with central assistance of around ₹80,000 per household under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, he said.
Under the PM-KUSUM scheme, more than eight lakh solar pumps are being provided to farmers in Karnataka to reduce irrigation costs while creating opportunities for additional income and employment.
"Meaning, the Annadatas of Karnataka are now also becoming Urjadatas," Modi said.
The Prime Minister was in Bengaluru to inaugurate the 7.5-km Pink Line metro stretch connecting Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere and flag off the Bengaluru-Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express. He also announced projects worth more than ₹15,000 crore for Karnataka.