Lok Sabha Question No. 5087 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-02
Subject: Nuclear Energy Mission
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Vishaldada Prakashbapu Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 5087

ANSWERED ON 02/04/2025

## NUCLEAR ENERGY MISSION

## 5087.    SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government plans to implement the proposed five indigenous Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in the country, particularly in Maharashtra under the newly announced Nuclear Energy Mission;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, district-wise;
- (c) the timeline for the implementation of the proposed amendments to the Atomic Energy Act  and  the  Civil  Liability  for  Nuclear  Damage  Act  to  facilitate  private  sector participation;
- (d) the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  safety  standards  for  future  SMR installations, particularly in potential sites like Jaitapur; and
- (e) the timeline for the implementation of the proposed amendments to the Atomic Energy Act  and  the  Civil  Liability  for  Nuclear  Damage  Act  to  facilitate  private  sector participation?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)&(b)The nuclear energy mission announced in the budget-2025 envisages deployment of 100 GWe of nuclear energy by 2047. Fund of INR 20,000 Crore allocated in the budget2025 for deployment of five SMRs by 2033.

Currently BARC is developing following small modular reactors,

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 offgrid 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. 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.

- (c) The Committees have been constituted in the Department with Members from DAE, AERB, NITI Aayog and Ministry of Law & Justice (MOLJ) to discuss and propose amendment in the acts (Atomic Energy Act and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act) so as to allow participation of private parties in respect of Nuclear sector. The Committee also have to look in the aspect of the waste management, fuel sourcing & handling, decommissioning, implementation of security and safeguards. The activities related  to  the  amendment  in  the  Acts  involves  various  stages  of  inter-  ministerial consultations as well as scientific solution. These activities may require time and in view of this it is not feasible to give a timeline.
- (d) Jaitapur  is  not  being  considered  for  SMR  installation.  It  is  suitable  for  large  size conventional  reactors.  All  safety  and  environmental  standards,  as  stipulated  by regulatory authority for conventional large reactors, are followed and implemented at the stage of site selection.
- (e)      As (c) above.

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