India's Strategic Leap: The Rise of Small Modular Reactors

India is making significant strides in its nuclear energy sector by developing three diverse small modular reactors (SMRs), including a specialized one for hydrogen production, as announced in the Lok Sabha by Union minister Jitendra Singh.

The government has outlined that the three reactors are the 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200), a 55 MWe SMR, and a 5 MWth high-temperature gas-cooled reactor specifically for generating hydrogen. The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) will undertake the construction of these reactors at pre-existing nuclear sites.

According to Singh, while the BSMR-200 is a collaborative effort between the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and Nuclear Power Corporation of India, the key construction sites will be Tarapur Atomic Power Station in Maharashtra for BSMR-200 and SMR-55, and Vizag, Andhra Pradesh for the high-temperature reactor. The projects have significant financial scopes, highlighting India's commitment to expanding its nuclear capacity.