Design stage of Bharat Small Modular nuclear Reactor ‘complete’

Minister of State Jitendra Singh.
| Photo Credit: ANI

The “concept design” stage of India’s proposed Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR) has been completed and is in the process of being approved. Once the project is sanctioned, it will take 60-72 months for the reactor to be constructed, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said in the Lok Sabha in response to a query on Wednesday (March 12, 2025).

BSMRs are modified versions of India’s existing Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PWHR) and will each have a capacity of 200 MW (Megawatt). They will be fuelled by “slightly enriched uranium” and are being jointly designed and developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).

Manufacturing and delivery of equipment and components will be carried out through various indigenous nuclear vendors developed by the Department Of Atomic Energy (DAE). “Critical items”, such as low alloy steel forgings required for manufacturing the reactor pressure vessel and reactivity control drive mechanisms, will be procured by domestic private vendors. These BSMRs will be used by energy intensive industries such as steel, aluminium, and cement for captive power and can be set up by repurposing thermal power plants that are to be decommissioned. They can also provide electricity in remote places.

The BSMR was based on the “globally proven” pressurised water reactor technology. It was equipped with passive safety features as well as several engineered safety systems to ensure nuclear safety during accidents. Systems were planned to handle spent fuel and its storage in-situ, Dr. Singh’s written response noted.

In her Budget speech in July 2024, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government would be partnering with the private sector for setting up Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs), research and development of BSMRs, and research & development of newer technologies for nuclear energy. BSR refers to smaller (55 MW) reactors and are in a nascent stage of design. The government has committed ₹20,000 crore for setting up the first of these by 2033. India expects to have 100 GW (gigawatt) of nuclear power installed by 2047. It currently has about 8.1 GW installed.