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PARLIAMENT QUESTION: DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL MODULAR REACTORS

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PARLIAMENT QUESTION: DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL MODULAR REACTORS

Under the Nuclear Energy Mission announced in the Union Budget 2025–26, a total budgetary provision of ₹20,000 crore has been made for the research, design, development, and deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has undertaken design and development works on SMRs namely,

 

Reactor

 

 

Cost Outlay (Rs Cr.)

Development and Construction of BSMR-200

5960

Development and Construction of SMR-55 (2 units)

7000

Design and construction of High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor

(HTGCR)

320

Design, engineering & development works for new reactors

800

Civil    and   General    Infrastructure   Development    for   reactors

complex

452

 

The progress of these SMRs is as follows;

Lead units of these SMRs will be constructed by DAE at its existing sites. So far, PSUs like Engineers India Limited and Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) have been contacted for detailed engineering of SMRs.

Tarapur Atomic Power Station site, Maharashtra has been identified for lead units of BSMR-200 and SMR-55 whereas Vizag, Andhra Pradesh site of BARC is identified for High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGCR).

At present no such proposal is received in Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).

Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR) is being jointly designed and developed by BARC and Nuclear power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). Estimated time for construction of BSMR is 60 to 72 months from receipt of administrative & financial approval.

This information was given by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

 

    1. 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200),
    2. 55 MWe Small Modular Reactor (SMR-55), and
    3. Up to 5 MWth High temperature gas cooled reactor meant for hydrogen generation. The lead units of these SMRs will be established at DAE sites for technology demonstration. The estimated utilisation of the allocated funds by BARC toward setting up SMRs is mentioned below:

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