Lok Sabha Question No. 2264 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Bharat Small Modular Reactors
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Mukeshkumar Chandrakaant Dalal, Dr. Prashant Yadaorao Padole

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 2264 ANSWERED ON 12/03/2025

## BHARAT SMALL MODULAR REACTORS

## 2264.  SHRI MUKESHKUMAR CHANDRAKAANT DALAL DR. PRASHANT YADAORAO PADOLE

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

- (a) the  details  of  plans  for  the  development  and  deployment  of  Bharat  Small  Modular Reactors and their role in India's energy strategy;
- (b) whether the potential locations have been identified for setting up these reactors and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the current status of  the  Bharat  Small  Modular  Reactors  (SMR)  research  and development  initiatives  including  progress  made  in  partnerships  with  private  sector entities  and  research  institutions  along  with  the major milestones achieved so far  and the estimated timelines for its completion;
- (d) the key technologies under development in Bharat SMRs to enhance safety and address nuclear waste management challenges;
- (e) the funds allocated for SMR research since the initiative's announcement along with the details of their utilization;
- (f) the  expected  role  of  SMRs  in  providing  reliable  power  to  remote  areas  by  2030  and plans for integrating them into the national energy grid; and
- (g) the timelines for pilot projects and the criteria for selecting sites for SMR deployment?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) BSMR-200 is of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PWR) type design. It will utilise Slightly Enriched Uranium (SEU) as fuel. Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has requisite  scientific  &  technological  know-how  for  its  design  and  development. Majority  of  equipment  are  within  capability  of  Indian  industries.  Bharat  Small

Modular  Reactors  of  capacity  200  MW  (BSMR-200)  are  being  designed  and developed by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) & Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) to cater to:

1. Captive  power  generation  for  the  energy  intensive  industries  such  as  steel, aluminium, cement etc.
2. Repurposing of the retiring thermal power plants.
3. Electricity requirement of remote locations not having the grid connectivity.
4. (b) The lead unit will be located at a DAE site.  The subsequent units are to be located at the sites of the end-user industry in case of captive power plants and at brown fields sites of retiring thermal power plants.
5. (c) BSMR is being jointly designed and developed by BARC and NPCIL. Manufacturing and  delivery  of  equipment  and  components  will  be  carried  out  through  various indigenous nuclear vendors developed by DAE.  Development of critical items such as low alloy steel forgings required for manufacturing the reactor pressure vessel and reactivity  control  drive  mechanisms  have  been  realised  by  the  domestic  private vendors.  Development works for other critical items such as reactor coolant pumps have been initiated  with  the  private  vendors.  All  major  development  works  will  be completed in the pre-project phase. The concept design of BSMR has been completed and is in approval stage.  Estimated time for construction of BSMR is 60 to 72 months after receipt of project sanction.
6. (d) BSMR is based on the globally proven pressurised water reactor technology. It has been  provided  with  passive  safety  features  as  well  as  several  engineered  safety systems to ensure nuclear safety during accidents.

Systems  have  been  planned  to  handle  spent  fuel  and  its  storage  in-situ.  In  case  of domestic fuel, the broad philosophy of nuclear waste management remains same to reduce the overall nuclear waste burden i.e. recovery of useful radioisotopes, if any, volume reduction followed by vitrification of waste in stable glass matrix and storage in  engineered  facilities  kept  under  surveillance  at  par  with  internationally  accepted practices.

However, in case of SMRs the reprocessing technology is to be re-engineered based on the fuel configuration.

- (e) The  Union  budget  2025  has  provisioned  Rs.  20,000  Crore  towards  design  and development of SMRs and their deployment.
- (f) Design  and  development  of  SMRs  (55  MWe)  is  being  carried  out  targeting  their deployment in remote locations. The lead twin units of such reactors will be first setup in a DAE site by 2033. Depending on the projected demand, BSMR-200 also can be deployed for such purposes. Both these plants are designed to operate in isolated mode not connected to the grid.
- (g) Estimated timelines for construction of BSMR-200 (lead unit) will be 60-72 months from the date of sanction of the project. Sites for SMR will be depending on their enduse viz., captive power generators will have sites provided by the user, brown field sites  in  the  case  of  repurposing  fossil  fuelled  power  stations,  green  field  sites  for remote locations.

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