NPCIL Seeks Offers for Small Nuclear Reactors to Replace Coal Plants


The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) has invited industry proposals to establish 220 MW Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs) for captive use, aiming to replace coal-fired thermal power plants in steel, aluminum, copper, and cement industries. The BSRs are 220 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) known for their excellent safety record and performance, designed to be compact and suited for industrial use. NPCIL’s statement emphasised that BSRs offer a sustainable solution for decarbonising industries that are difficult to electrify. They will also help industries reduce carbon emission-related taxes, enhancing their competitiveness in global markets. The government plans to deploy 40-50 such reactors over the next decade in collaboration with the private sector. This initiative is part of the 220 MW BSR program announced in the 2024-25 Union Budget by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. BSRs are a type of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), a new class of nuclear reactors that can be built in specialised factories and assembled on-site. (ET)

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