Deploying reactor above 600 MW likely to be ‘technically challenging’
Sri Lanka is making progress in establishing nuclear infrastructure and has already identified potential new-build sites as it embarks on the development of its nuclear power programme, according to an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) review mission.
The follow-up Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission, conducted at the request of the government of Sri Lanka, took place from 14 to 18 July 2025.
The INIR team concluded that Sri Lanka has made good progress to address recommendations and suggestions from an INIR mission in 2022.
Sri Lanka has already identified five candidate sites for the nuclear power plant, established a management structure to oversee the procurement process for nuclear reactors, drafted a comprehensive nuclear law and included nuclear power in its current long-term energy planning for the period 2025-2044.
“Sri Lanka is actively working on addressing the recommendations and suggestions from the main INIR mission in 2022,” said mission team leader John Haddad from the IAEA’s nuclear infrastructure development section.
“This indicates the level of commitment of Sri Lanka to conduct the required studies and make a knowledgeable decision regarding the nuclear power programme.”
In 2010, Sri Lanka approved the initiation of studies for implementing a nuclear power programme in the country. In 2024, the government decided on “further actions” to consider a nuclear power programme, the IAEA said.
Nuclear power is included as an energy source in an energy generation plan for 2025-2044.
But according to the plan, accommodating a nuclear power unit above 600 MW to the Sri Lankan network will be technically challenging due to the network’s condition, projected demand growth, and the generation mix which is expected to be dominated by variable renewable energy sources.
The team said that further work is needed related to the finalisation of strategies and studies in various areas of infrastructure development such as, among others, management, human resource development, stakeholder involvement, radioactive waste management and industrial involvement.
In 2024, press reports in Sri Lanka said the country had received six proposals for construction of a commercial nuclear power station.
