India is developing compact nuclear reactors, including a 200 MW design, that could be installed on commercial ships or used at captive power plants for energy-intensive industries.

Sources explained that nuclear power is generated through nuclear fission, a process that produces heat, which is then converted into electricity. The new reactors are designed to be deployable wherever needed, including on ships.

Scientists at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) are currently working on two reactors, one rated at 55 MW and another at 200 MW, for sectors such as cement manufacturing.

Officials said that these Bharat Small Modular Reactors (BSMR) meet high safety standards and could even power merchant navy vessels, while avoiding comments on potential use in nuclear submarines.

India currently operates two home-built nuclear submarines, INS Arihant and INS Arighaat, both powered by 83 MW reactors, with a third, INS Aridhaman, undergoing trials.

The government plans to amend the Atomic Energy Act (AEA), 1962, to allow private companies to take part in India’s civil nuclear sector.

Under the proposed changes, private firms could run nuclear power plants and handle the early stages of the nuclear fuel cycle. They may also be allowed to buy nuclear fuel from foreign countries, with the spent fuel sent back to its country of origin.

Additionally, amendments to the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLND) are also being considered. These would limit the liability of suppliers of nuclear equipment, as defined in the contracts between suppliers and operators. The amendments also seek to formally define a ‘supplier’ as a provider of critical equipment.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target of expanding India’s nuclear power capacity to 100 GW by 2047, a significant increase from the current 8.8 GW.

Bharat Small Modular Reactors are expected to play an important role in this expansion, providing scalable and flexible solutions to meet the country’s growing electricity demand.

References: firstpost, PTI