MC EXCLUSIVE Large reactors likely to drive India’s nuclear power plan despite buzz around SMRs

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India is likely to focus on large nuclear reactors to achieve 100 gigawatts (GW) capacity by 2047 under the National Nuclear Energy Mission, with small module reactors (SMRs) expected to play a supporting role, two government officials have told Moneycontrol.

“The ratio is going to be 80:20, wherein 80 GW of the 100 GW is going to be executed by two CPSEs (central public sector undertakings) – NPCIL (50 GW) and NTPC Ltd (30 GW), which will primarily be focused on large reactors and high capacity plants overall,” one of the officials said.

The remaining 20 GW will be through small module reactors with the involvement of private participation, the official said, adding the 80 GW could also have some SMRs but it would be implemented on “fleet mode”, which means clubbing multiple SMRs at one site.

An example of the non-SMR big-ticket projects planned under the National Nuclear Energy Mission is the Jaitapur power plant in Maharashtra, touted as country’ biggest with a capacity of 10,380 MW.

It will have six nuclear reactors of 1,730 MW each and the plant alone will account for 10 percent of 100 GW nuclear energy target.

No date for commissioning the much-delayed project has been finalised yet, as discussions on commercial terms with French stakeholders are on. The reactors will be imported from French company EDF.

In the Budget 2025, the government announced the National Nuclear Energy Mission with an outlay of Rs 20,000 crore for research and innovation in SMRs.

The government is also working on opening the nuclear energy business to the private sector for which it will have to amend the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA), 2010.

“In 22 years, India has to build at least 91 GW of nuclear power capacity compared to the current 8.8 GW which has been built over the past 56 years, since the country commissioned its first commercial nuclear power plant at Tarapur, Maharashtra. So, while SMRs will bring speed due to their flexibility and compactness, India will mostly need larger reactors to bring the scale in less time,” said an industry executive on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to media.

What are SMRs?

Small modular reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear reactors that have a power capacity of up to 300 MW, about a third of the generating capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors.

In this segment, India is promoting its indigenously produced 220 MW SMRs, known as Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs).

What are large reactors?

For larger reactors, India is relying either on pressurised water reactors (PWRs) or pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs). While PWRs use regular water for cooling and need enriched uranium, PHWRs need a chemical form of water and can do with natural uranium.

What is India's National Nuclear Energy Mission?

India’s nuclear power capacity is 8.8 GW and the government aims to scale to 22.48 GW by 2031-32 and eventually to 100 GW by 2047.

For this, India announced a National Nuclear Energy Mission in the 2025 Budget with an outlay of Rs 20,000 crore.

Why does India need nuclear energy?

India needs nuclear energy to meet its growing energy demand and also to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels to meet its climate commitments by reducing its carbon footprint. Along with renewable sources like solar and wind, nuclear energy is a reliable and low-carbon power source.

Which is India's largest operational nuclear power plant?

It is the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli district. It has an operational capacity of 2000 MW, which will be expanded to a total of 6,000 MW.

India's biggest nuclear power plant will be the 10,380 MW plant coming up in Jaitapur, Maharashtra.