Bharat Small Reactors Take Centre Stage at ICC India Energy Summit

India’s plan to expand nuclear power capacity towards 100 GW and the potential role of Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs) in meeting industrial energy demand were the focus of discussions on the second day of the 20th Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) India Energy Summit in New Delhi.

Themed 'The Energy Business: The Present, Diversification and the Future,' the summit brought industry experts together to discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with expanding nuclear power, including private-sector participation, domestic manufacturing, regulatory requirements, project siting and community engagement.

The panel discussion highlighted India’s established 220 MW pressurised heavy water reactor technology as the engineering foundation for the BSR programme. The reactors are intended to support the captive power requirements of energy-intensive industries by providing round-the-clock, low-carbon electricity, subject to the applicable regulatory framework.

Kishor U Agarwal, Director (Nuclear Strategy and Advisor) at Vedanta Power, said that India’s experience in developing and operating 220 MW reactors provided a foundation for the programme. Having spent 36 years at Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), Agarwal said that the government had sought a framework through which private industry could participate in nuclear power generation for captive consumption, estimated at 65–70 GW.

Under the proposed arrangement discussed at the summit, private partners could jointly build reactors with NPCIL, while NPCIL would operate the plants.

Agarwal said that the 220 MW reactor design was a proven technology, with the last unit built by NPCIL commencing commercial operations in 2012. He added that the reactors had demonstrated reliable performance and that standardisation had resolved several engineering challenges, allowing equipment procurement to proceed through an established design framework.

He also highlighted the importance of strengthening the domestic supply chain to support wider deployment. According to Agarwal, only two specialised components were still being imported, and he expected Indian suppliers to begin manufacturing them within the next one or two years. He said that NPCIL was also planning to establish an engineering division to support private industry within the coming months.

Agarwal cited the operating performance of India’s nuclear fleet, noting that one reactor at Kaiga had operated for more than 1,000 days. He also highlighted the relatively low frequency of nuclear fuel replenishment, stating that a single truckload of fuel could sustain a reactor for approximately a year.

Prasenjit Pal, Senior Advisor – Nuclear at Bajaj Energy and former Executive Director (Nuclear) at NTPC Parmanu Urja Nigam Ltd., highlighted the challenges involved in selecting sites and developing nuclear power projects. Drawing on his experience with the Mahi Banswara nuclear power project in Rajasthan, he said that site selection required detailed assessments of geological conditions, water availability, seismic risks and proximity to military or industrial establishments.

Pal said  that a twin-unit 700 MW project required approximately 15 lakh cubic metres of concrete and 80 million cubic metres of water annually, underlining the scale of resources involved in nuclear construction.

He also emphasised that regulatory oversight begins at the site-selection stage and continues throughout project development. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board’s clearances cover several stages, including site acceptance, siting, excavation and the first pour of concrete.

Community engagement was another key consideration, Pal said, pointing to the Mahi Banswara project, where an investment of approximately INR 48,000 crore is planned. He cited the development of schools, roads and solar streetlights in nearby villages as examples of measures intended to demonstrate tangible benefits to local communities.

According to Pal, excavation work at the project was around 50 days ahead of schedule at the time of the discussion. Clearance for the first pour of concrete was expected around the middle of 2027, while the first unit was targeted to achieve criticality in 2032.

On equipment manufacturing, Pal said that suppliers serving conventional thermal power plants could participate in the non-nuclear sections of nuclear projects. He also called for greater domestic capability to manufacture components from specialised alloys, which must meet stringent requirements for long-term plant operation.

The discussion also addressed the implications of the SHANTI Act, which received presidential assent on December 20, 2025, and provides a framework for private participation in nuclear plant operations, power generation and equipment manufacturing.

Despite the policy changes and established reactor technology, participants highlighted several challenges to wider deployment, including high capital costs, long construction periods, limited suitable sites, dependence on imported specialised alloys and the need for clarity on electricity tariffs and fuel supplies.

India’s longer-term nuclear ambitions include expanding capacity towards 100 GW by 2047. The government has also set a target of developing at least five indigenous small modular reactors by 2033, while reactors currently under construction are expected to contribute to capacity additions around 2031–32.

The summit concluded with the ICC Awards, including the Best State Power Utility Awards and the 14th Innovation with Impact Awards for Discoms 2026. The awards recognised public- and private-sector power distribution companies from across India.

The awardees included Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd., Kerala State Electricity Board, BSES Yamuna Power Limited, Northern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Ltd. and Tata Steel Utilities and Infrastructure Services Limited. West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited received a Special Jury Award for Quality and Distribution of Power Supply During Criticalities.

The Indian Chamber of Commerce organised the summit, with Deloitte serving as Knowledge Partner and Award Evaluator.