Lok Sabha Question No. 1453 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-04
Subject: Bharat Small Reactors (BSR)
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Eatala Rajender, Smt. D K Aruna, Shri Suresh Kumar Shetkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1453

ANSWERED ON 04/12/2024

## BHARAT SMALL REACTORS (BSR)

## 1453.  SMT. D K ARUNA SHRI EATALA RAJENDER SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

- (a)   whether the Government is working out on the expansion of India's nuclear energy sector, partnerships with the private sector for research and developing Bharat Small Reactors (BSR), Bharat Small Modular Reactors (BSMR) as well as newer nuclear energy technologies and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether the Government is aiming at India's ambitious pursuit of the decarbonisation of energy generation and achieving 500 Gigawatts of non-fossil fuel-based energy generation in India by 2030, as pledged at the COP26 Summit in Glasgow, in 2021 and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether there is renewed interest in visiting the existing framework governing the Indian nuclear  energy  sector  and  not  in  conflict  with  the  applicable  laws  partnering  with  private participants to attract nearly $26 billion of investments into the sector; and
- (d)    if so, the details thereof and the progress made particularly in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, Telangana along with the details of investments made in these projects till now?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  India  is  pursuing  three  stage  nuclear  power  programme  to  optimally  utilise  its  limited uranium resources and exploit its vast thorium reserves by nearly closed fuel cycle. The first stage involves use of natural uranium in pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR), the fissile material recovered from spent fuel of first stage is used as fuel in fast breeder reactors (FBRs) in the second stage.  The FBRs are also designed for breeding fissile uranium-233 from fertile thorium-232 used as blanket in second stage of nuclear power programme. Thorium utilisation is envisaged using uranium-233 and thorium-232 in the third stage of nuclear power programme for long term energy security in a sustainable manner.

The standard 220 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR), which has a proven safety and performance record, is being upgraded to reduce the land requirement and make it deployable close to the industries for use as a captive power plant. These reactors, termed as  Bharat  Small  Reactors  (BSR)  are  planned  to  address  the  decarbonisation  needs  of industries like steel, aluminium, metals etc. Setting up of 220 MW Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs) is envisaged within the existing legal framework, broadly envisaging provision of land, cooling water and capital by the private entity, with the design, quality assurance and operation & maintenance by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), based on agreed business models.

BARC is developing Small Modular Reactor for repurposing of retiring coal based power plants and catering to power requirements at remote locations in the country.

Apart from the above reactors, DAE has planned to launch new nuclear reactors including high temperature gas cooled reactor for co-generation of hydrogen and molten salt reactor aimed at utilization of the abundantly available thorium in the country.

- (b) 'Hon'ble Prime Minister in his statement at COP26 Summit held in Glasgow has stated that India will reach its non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030 and India will meet 50  percent  of  its  energy  requirements  from  Renewable  Energy  by  2030'.  With  the progressive  deployment  of  clean  technologies  like  nuclear  power  and  renewable  it  is envisaged to achieve the objective of a net zero carbon economy by 2070.

(c) & (d) No such investment information is available in Department.

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