India, Aug. 5 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
Under the Nuclear Energy Mission announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, a total budgetary provision of Rs.20,000 crore has been allocated for the design, development and deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). This allocation is aimed at supporting India's objective of developing and operationalising at least five indigenous SMRs by 2033.
In this regard, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) a constituent Unit of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has undertaken the design & development of demonstration units of SMRs, namely 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200), 55 MWe Small Modular Reactor (SMR-55) for power generation, and a High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGCR) having capacity up to 5 MWth, for generation of process heat, which can be coupled with suitable thermochemical cycle for hydrogen production. These SMRs require 60 to 72 months for establishment after receipt of administrative & financial sanction.
BARC has undertaken the design and development of SMRs, namely 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200), 55 MWe Small Modular Reactor (SMR-55), and High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGCR) having capacity up to 5 MWth for hydrogen production.
The recently enacted SHANTI 2025 Act (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Act) proposes enabling legislative reforms to widen the participation of government owned as well as private entities in the Nuclear Energy sector for peaceful purposes towards achieving the ambitious goal of generating 100GW of nuclear power by the year 2047 for Vikshit Bharat. These reforms will come in to effect once the SHANTI Act is notified for its entry in to force.
The expertise of Indian industries in development, manufacturing and construction of indigenous pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) has been leveraged for development and deployment of SMRs. Necessary technology for development and deployment of SMRs is available in the country, and the majority of equipment are within the manufacturing capability of Indian industries with technological handholding by BARC. The special material Advanced Purified Reactor Vessel Alloy (ApuRVA) and technology for forgings for reactor pressure vessels of BSMR-200 and SMR-55 have been developed indigenously in collaboration with Indian industries. Development of critical items such as reactivity control drive mechanisms has already been realised, while development of other critical equipment have been initiated with the domestic industry.
This information was given by Union Minister of State for Prime Minister's office and Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
