Dr Jitendra updates Rajya Sabha on development of small modular reactors

New Delhi, July 25: Following Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget announcement on developing “Small Modular Reactors” (SMRs) with an allocation of Rs 36,159.93 crore for 2024-25 under the Department of Atomic Energy, Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, updated the Rajya Sabha on the progress of this initiative.
Dr Jitendra Singh informed the House that the Department of Atomic Energy is closely monitoring global developments and trends in SMR technology. He said while various technologies and designs from different countries and vendors are being studied, there are no current proposals to collaborate with foreign entities. “No private players have expressed interest in producing SMRs, although some have shown interest in deploying them at their captive sites,” he said.
SMRs are considered potential game-changers due to their smaller size and output capacity of up to 300 Megawatt electric (MWe), producing 7.2 million kWh per day. This is in contrast to large nuclear power plants, which typically have outputs exceeding 1,000 MWe and produce 24 million kWh per day.
In response to another question, Dr Singh said that both the Government of India and the Government of the Russian Federation have shown interest in expanding cooperation in nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, including the field of SMRs.
He also highlighted the current nuclear power capacity in India, which stands at 8180 MW across 24 reactors. “Nine reactors with a total capacity of 7300 MW, including the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidhyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI), are under construction. Additionally, twelve reactors with a capacity of 8000 MW, including twin units of Fast Breeder Reactors (FBR) 1 & 2 by BHAVINI, are in pre-project activities,” he said.
The union minister said the installed nuclear power capacity has increased from 4780 MW in 2013-14 to 8180 MW at present, with annual electricity generation rising from 34,228 million units in 2013-14 to 47,971 million units in 2023-24.