Union Minister of State for Atomic Energy Dr Jitendra Singh today said that policy support and the SHANTI Act are expected to facilitate greater participation of the private sector in scaling up the country’s nuclear energy capacity and achieve the 100-gigawatt nuclear energy target by 2047. While addressing the workshop on Small Modular Reactors with MPs and MLAs in New Delhi, the Minister added that under the recently launched Nuclear Mission with an allocation of 20 thousand crore rupees, five Small Modular Reactors are planned by 2033. Mr Singh added that the reactors, developed by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research and built by BHAVINI, mark the beginning of the second stage of the country’s nuclear power programme, using mixed oxide fuel to generate more fuel than it consumes. He said that this milestone brings India closer to utilising its vast thorium reserves in the third stage of its nuclear strategy. 

 

Mr Singh added that once fully operational, India will become the second country after Russia to run a commercial-scale fast breeder reactor. He said that the Small Modular Reactors will be useful for captive power generation, particularly in industrial areas, dense population zones, and remote areas lacking grid connection. The Minister added that the country achieved a milestone by developing an indigenously designed 500 Megawatt electric Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, which achieved first criticality on 6th April.