The order was formally handed over to MEIL at NPCIL’s Mumbai headquarters
MEIL, a Hyderabad-based infrastructure company founded in 1989, secured the contract through NPCIL’s Quality-cum-Cost-Based Selection method, which balances technical quality and cost efficiency. Competing against established companies like BHEL and Larsen & Toubro, MEIL was selected for its robust technical proposal and competitive pricing. The company stated: “For MEIL, it’s a meaningful leap into a sector that plays a key role in powering the nation’s growth story.”
Located in Karnataka, Kaiga units 5 and 6 are the first of ten 700 MWe pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs) planned under India’s fleet-mode construction approach, designed to optimize efficiency and achieve economies of scale. The Indian government has granted administrative approval and financial sanction for these units, with excavation work beginning in May 2022. Larsen & Toubro has already manufactured and delivered four of the eight steam generators required for the project.
India currently operates two 700 MWe PHWR units at Kakrapar in Gujarat, both in commercial operation. A third unit, Rajasthan unit 7, was connected to the grid in March 2025, with construction ongoing for a second 700 MWe unit at the same site. Minister of State Jitendra Singh informed the Indian parliament that the remaining ten fleet-mode units, including Kaiga units 5 and 6, Gorakhpur units 3 and 4 in Haryana, Chutka units 1 and 2 in Madhya Pradesh, and Mahi Banswara units 1-4 in Rajasthan, are in pre-project activities.
MEIL, with operations in hydrocarbons, transportation, irrigation, power, water supply, and manufacturing across more than 20 countries, views the Kaiga contract as a milestone in its diversification into nuclear energy. The company emphasized: “Competing with industry giants like BHEL and L&T, MEIL was chosen for its strong technical approach and competitive pricing.”
The Kaiga units 5 and 6 project underscores India’s commitment to expanding its nuclear energy capacity to meet growing energy demands sustainably. By leveraging fleet-mode construction and engaging capable domestic companies like MEIL, NPCIL aims to enhance efficiency and support the nation’s energy infrastructure development.
