India expresses interest in Russia’s lunar nuclear power plant project

India has shown interest in joining Russia’s ambitious lunar nuclear power plant initiative, which aims to establish a base on the Moon in collaboration with China, according to reports from EurAsian Times and Russia’s state-owned agency Tass. Spearheaded by Rosatom, the project will develop a small nuclear power plant with a capacity of up to half a megawatt to power the lunar base’s operations.

Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev confirmed India’s and China’s interest in the project during the Eastern Economic Forum, emphasizing the growing international involvement. The development of the lunar nuclear plant, which will likely be completed autonomously without human involvement, is expected to be operational by around 2036. Russia and China have been collaborating on the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), slated for operation between 2035 and 2045, which will serve as a scientific research hub open to other nations.

India’s participation in the lunar nuclear project could accelerate its lunar exploration goals, as the country aims to establish its lunar base by 2050. This collaboration with Russia and China may provide an opportunity for India to meet its lunar ambitions sooner. Meanwhile, the US is also exploring nuclear power for lunar bases, as NASA evaluates nuclear reactors to support long-term lunar settlements. Nuclear energy is seen as the most viable solution for sustaining lunar colonies.