Lok Sabha Question No. 4189 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Nuclear Mission
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Dr. K Sudhakar, Ms Kangna Ranaut, Shri Bhojraj Nag, Shri Damodar Agrawal, Shri Chavda Vinod Lakhamshi, Shri Janardan Mishra, Smt. Roopkumari Choudhary, Shri Anurag Sharma, Dr. Bhola Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 4189

ANSWERED ON 26/03/2025

## NUCLEAR MISSION

4189.  SHRI DAMODAR AGRAWAL SHRI ANURAG SHARMA SHRI CHAVDA VINOD LAKHAMSHI SHRI BHOJRAJ NAG SMT. ROOPKUMARI CHOUDHARY DR. K SUDHAKAR DR. BHOLA SINGH SHRI JANARDAN MISHRA MS KANGNA RANAUT

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

- (a) the manner in which the 'Nuclear Mission' announced in the Union Budget 2025-26 is likely to transform Country's energy scenario;
- (b) the  key  objectives  of  Research  and  Development  (R&D)  in  Small  Modular  Reactors (SMRs);
- (c) whether the Government has any plans to establish Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in the Country and if so, the details thereof including proposed locations and timelines;
- (d) the  manner  in  which  the  said  reactors  are  likely  to  contribute  to  Country's  energy security;
- (e) the manner in which recently launched Nuclear Energy Mission is likely to strengthen Country's commitment to clean and sustainable energy solutions;
- (f) the details of new nuclear power plants proposed by the Government; and
- (g) the details of the status of the production of indigenously developed nuclear reactors?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) to (c) The nuclear energy mission announced in the budget-2025 envisages deployment of 100 GWe of nuclear energy by 2047, this initiative will increase the share of nuclear energy in India's energy mix for long term energy transition strategy for

Viksit Bharat. The mission aims to provide reliable energy alternative to fossil fuel  energy  sources.  It  will  facilitate  larger  base  load  capacity  from  nuclear energy among all clean energy sources. The objective of R&D is development of nuclear  technologies  towards  indigenous  advanced  reactors  comprising  safety features,  associated  fuel  cycles  for  enhancing  the  share  of  nuclear  energy  & ensuring  long  term  energy  security  and  hydrogen  production  for  decarburising transport sector & process industry.

Currently  Department  of  Atomic  Energy  (DAE)  is  developing  reactors  & technologies for nuclear energy mission with objective described below:

1. Bharat  Small  Modular  Reactors  (BSMR-200)  for  repurposing  of  retiring thermal power plants & captive power plants for energy intensive industry such as aluminium, steel, metal.
2. Small Modular Reactors (SMR-55) for providing energy for remote as well as off-grid location with objective to decarbonise the energy sector.
3. High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor of capacity 5 MWth for hydrogen generation for decarbonisation of transport sector & process industries.

Lead  units  of  these  reactors  are  planned  to  be  set  up  at  DAE  sites.  These demonstration  reactors  are  likely  to  be  constructed  in  60  to  72  months  after receipt of project sanctions.

Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) is currently commissioning  the  indigenously  developed  500  MWe  Prototype  Fast  Breeder Reactor  (PFBR)  project  at  Kalpakkam,  Tamil  Nadu.    PFBR  will  establish  the techno-commercial viability of the indigenously developed Fast Breeder Reactors.    On  successful  commissioning  of  the  same,  Government  will  be approached  for  launching  of  2x500  MWe  twin  unit  of  FBR  1&2  project  at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu.   FBR 1&2 will be of the same design as PFBR.

- (d) Right from the inception, Department of Atomic Energy has chalked out threestage nuclear power programme to optimally utilise its limited uranium resources and to exploit its large thorium reserves by adopting closed fuel cycle for India's energy security.  The programme aims to use domestic uranium in the PHWRs

and  use  plutonium  obtained  from  the  reprocessing  of  spent  fuel  of  Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors in Fast Breeder Reactors. Large scale use of thorium will subsequently  follow  making  use  of  the  Uranium-233  that  will  be  bred  in  Fast Breeder Reactors, when adequate capacity will be built in the country.   It will ensure the energy security.

- (e) Nuclear Energy Mission strengthen India's commitment to clean & sustainable energy solutions through following:
1. Replacement  of  fossil  fuel  based  base  load  thermal  power  plants  & captive power plants with small nuclear power plants including SMRs.
2. Nuclear  power  at  remote  &  off-grid  locations  in  place  of  conventional fossil fuel plant.
3. Nuclear  green  hydrogen  for  transport  sector  &  process  industry  for decarbonisation.
4. Development & demonstration of reactor technology of thorium utilisation.

Gradually replacement of fossil fuel-based energy sources with nuclear reactors can  decarbonise  the  industrial,  power  &  transport  sector  and  development  of reactors  for  thorium  utilisation  will  be  instrumental  in  strengthening  India's commitment to clean and sustainable energy solutions.

Fast  Breeder  Reactor  (FBR)  is  one  of  the  low  carbon  energy  resource  that operates  with  a  higher  thermal  efficiency  which  results  in  better  utilization  of resource  and  consequent  reduction  of  radioactive  waste  and  thermal  pollution. FBR incinerates high level  radioactive  wastes  arising  from  the  reprocessing  of spent fuel from thermal or fast reactors and thus reduces the long-term storage problems of radiological waste.

Nuclear  power  is  a  clean  base  load  source  of  electricity  available  24x7  with lifecycle  Greenhouse  gas  emissions  comparable  to  renewables  like  Hydro  and wind. An installed nuclear power capacity of 100 GW envisaged in the Nuclear Energy Mission could potentially abate about 640 million tons of CO2 equivalent emissions annually.

- (f) Nil.
- (g) Presently  eighteen  indigenous  nuclear  power  reactors  with  a  total  capacity  of 5560 MW are under commercial operation and one more indigenous reactor of 700 MW has been connected to the grid on March 17, 2025.

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