New Delhi : The nuclear energy mission announced in the budget-2025 envisages deployment of 100 GWe of nuclear energy by 2047, which is essential for NetZero by 2070. The mission aims to provide reliable energy alternative to fossil fuel energy sources with an objective to replace retiring thermal power-plants, set up captive plants for energy intensive industry & providing energy for remote as well as off-grid location with objective to decarbonize the energy sector.
This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
He Said that DAE is designing and developing SMRs mentioned below :
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- Bharat Small Modular Reactor(BSMR)-200MWe,
- Small Modular Reactor(SMR) -55Mwe,and
- Gas-cooled high-temperature reactor meant for hydrogen production.
He said that Fund of INR 20,000 Crore allocated in the budget-2025 for deployment of five SMRs by 2033. Fund is also allocated for supporting to development of Small Modular Reactors mentioned above.
Union Minister said that In Financial Year 2024-25, as part of Budget Announcement, policy directive has been set to partner with the private sector for setting up Bharat Small Reactor (BSR), and in pursuance of the same, NPCIL has floated Request-for-Proposal to private industries to finance and build small-sized 220 MW-PHWR based NPPs as captive plants for electricity production.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that a task Force has been constituted in Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) to look into the amendments required in the Atomic Energy Act. This Task Force has members from DAE, AERB, NPCIL, NITI Aayog, MoLJ and MEA. The Task Force is looking into various aspects like build, own, operation of NPPs by Private Sector, nuclear safety, security, safeguards, fuel procurement/ fabrication, waste, management, spent fuel reprocessing, etc. In addition, a separate Task Force is also looking into Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLND Act) to address the concerns raised by private suppliers.