India is developing compact 200 MW & 55 MW Small Modular Reactors for commercial ships and industries. The plan aims to boost nuclear capacity to 100 GW by 2047
India is making a major push into small modular nuclear reactor technology, with scientists at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre developing compact 200 MW and 55 MW nuclear reactors that can power commercial ships and energy-intensive industries. The announcement comes as part of India's ambitious plan to expand nuclear power capacity from the current 8.8 GW to 100 GW by 2047.
Senior officials confirmed that these Bharat Small Modular Reactors can be deployed wherever needed, including on merchant navy vessels. "Nuclear power is generated by causing nuclear fission to create heat that leads to electricity production. You can put the reactor wherever you want, even on a ship," a government official said, while emphasizing the reactors' safety features for maritime applications.
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Government Roadmap Targets Massive Nuclear Expansion
The reactor development is central to India's Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat, launched in the Union Budget 2025-26 with an allocation of ₹20,000 crore. A comprehensive roadmap finalized in June 2025 outlines how India will achieve its 100 GW target, with small modular reactors contributing 10 GW of the total capacity.
The roadmap anticipates an investment requirement of ₹19-20 lakh crore over the next two decades. To enable this expansion, the government plans to amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act to allow private sector participation in nuclear power projects for the first time.
Three Reactor Designs Under Development
BARC is developing three distinct SMR designs: the 200 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor, a 55 MWe SMR for remote locations, and a 5 MW High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor specifically for hydrogen production. The concept design for the BSMR has been completed and is currently in the approval stage.
Officials estimate the overall cost for the lead unit of the 200 MW reactor at approximately ₹5,750 crore, with construction expected to take 60-72 months after receiving project sanction. These demonstration reactors will initially be built at Department of Atomic Energy sites before commercial deployment.
The reactors are designed to serve captive power plants for steel, aluminum, and cement industries, while also enabling the repurposing of retiring thermal power plants. This strategic approach aligns with India's broader decarbonization goals and the "Net Zero by 2070" commitment.
Published: 20 Oct 2025, 11:20 am IST
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