RM Nachammai becomes first woman to lead operations at an Indian nuclear power plant

In a historic development for India’s nuclear energy sector, RM Nachammai has become the first woman to serve as Chief Superintendent overseeing operations at a functional nuclear power plant under the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL).

Her appointment is considered a major milestone not only for NPCIL but also for India’s long-term energy strategy, as the country aims to expand its nuclear power capacity to 100 GW by 2047.

Nachammai will take charge as Chief Superintendent of the Kaiga Generating Station Units 3 and 4 in Karnataka, effective March 15. In this role, she will oversee the Operations, Maintenance and Engineering Support divisions of the operational reactor complex. The position involves continuous monitoring of reactor performance, safety systems and overall plant operations, making it one of the most technically demanding roles in the nuclear power ecosystem.

Commenting on the appointment, NPCIL Chairman and Managing Director BC Pathak highlighted both the professional significance and the broader impact of the moment. Pathak said, “Nachammai embodies Nari Shakti, her elevation as a leader in the crucial and demanding operations sector of a nuclear power plant is thanks to her technical capability and this certainly opens the door for younger women to join the Indian nuclear industry as India ramps up to 100 gigawatts of nuclear energy by 2047. A great achievement for the 10,000 strong work force of NPCIL to get a woman leader as the chief superintendent of an operational reactor. India certainly needs more women leaders in the nuclear sector as New Delhi embraces cleaner energy goals.”

The announcement comes close to International Women’s Day, giving the development additional significance. Out of NPCIL’s workforce of nearly 10,000 employees, around 900 are women, reflecting the gender imbalance that still exists in highly specialised technical and operational roles. Nachammai’s appointment is therefore seen as a positive step toward increasing female representation in the nuclear sector.

With more than 35 years of experience in nuclear power plants, Nachammai’s career reflects strong technical expertise and operational leadership. She is a graduate in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Madras University and secured a university rank in 1990.

She joined NPCIL in 1991 and quickly gained recognition by receiving the Vikram Sarabhai Award for topping the second batch of NPCIL’s engineer trainees.

Over the years, she has held several key roles at the Madras Atomic Power Station and the Kaiga Generating Station Units 1 and 2, building extensive experience across operations, maintenance, and engineering functions. Her contributions have been recognised with the NPCIL Special Contribution Award in 2010, 2014 and 2017.

Beyond plant operations, Nachammai has also contributed to nuclear safety awareness and public outreach. She has presented at national forums on nuclear power safety, participated in public awareness programs and represented NPCIL in multiple international platforms promoting India’s nuclear safety standards.

The Kaiga Nuclear Power Station in Karnataka is one of India’s major nuclear power hubs. It currently operates 4 Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors of 220 MWe each, with a total installed capacity of 880 MW. With Units 5 and 6 under development, the station’s capacity is expected to increase to 2,280 MW, strengthening India’s clean energy infrastructure.