India Invites Proposals for Ambitious Bharat Small Reactors Initiative

India's NPCIL is inviting proposals to set up 220 MW Bharat Small Reactors, aiming to replace coal-fired plants in various industries. These reactors promise safety, performance, and decarbonization benefits. The initiative is part of a governmental plan to deploy 40-50 reactors with private sector collaboration.

India's Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) has announced a major step forward in its energy transition efforts by inviting proposals for the deployment of 220 MW Bharat Small Reactors. This initiative is targeted at replacing coal-fired thermal power plants across various industries, such as steel and aluminum.

The Bharat Small Reactors are compact Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors noted for their safety and efficiency. The NPCIL stated that this move aligns with national goals to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors and promises economic advantages from carbon tax savings, boosting global competitiveness.

Planned for deployment over the next decade, the reactors are part of a project unveiled in the 2024-25 Union budget by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman. The government aims to partner with private enterprises, working within existing legal and business frameworks.

(With inputs from agencies.)