The “concept design” stage of India’s proposed Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR) has been accomplished and is within the course of of being authorized. Once the mission is sanctioned, it’s going to take 60-72 months for the reactor to be constructed, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh mentioned within the Lok Sabha in response to a question on Wednesday (March 12, 2025).
BSMRs are modified variations of India’s present Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PWHR) and can every have a capability of 200 MW (Megawatt). They might be fuelled by “slightly enriched uranium” and are being collectively designed and developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).
Manufacturing and supply of tools and elements might be carried out by way of numerous indigenous nuclear distributors developed by the Department Of Atomic Energy (DAE). “Critical items”, akin to low alloy metal forgings required for manufacturing the reactor stress vessel and reactivity management drive mechanisms, might be procured by home non-public distributors. These BSMRs might be utilized by vitality intensive industries akin to metal, aluminium, and cement for captive energy and could be arrange by repurposing thermal energy vegetation which might be to be decommissioned. They may also present electrical energy in distant locations.
The BSMR was primarily based on the “globally proven” pressurised water reactor expertise. It was geared up with passive security options in addition to a number of engineered security programs to make sure nuclear security throughout accidents. Systems have been deliberate to deal with spent gas and its storage in-situ, Dr. Singh’s written response famous.
In her Budget speech in July 2024, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman mentioned the federal government could be partnering with the non-public sector for establishing Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs), analysis and growth of BSMRs, and analysis & growth of newer applied sciences for nuclear vitality. BSR refers to smaller (55 MW) reactors and are in a nascent stage of design. The authorities has dedicated ₹20,000 crore for establishing the primary of these by 2033. India expects to have 100 GW (gigawatt) of nuclear energy put in by 2047. It at the moment has about 8.1 GW put in.
Published – March 12, 2025 09:34 pm IST
