India Plans Domestic SMR Fleet to Fuel Nuclear Expansion

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre is currently spearheading the development of three distinct units, including a 220-MW Bharat Small Modular Reactor and a specialized high-temperature gas-cooled reactor intended for hydrogen production. These efforts align with a broader national roadmap targeting a capacity increase from the current 8.78 gigawatts to 22 gigawatts by the 2031-32 fiscal year. Long-term projections are even more ambitious, with the government eyeing 100 gigawatts of nuclear power by 2047.

Achieving this decade-long expansion requires approximately 19.28 trillion rupees—roughly $200 billion—in capital. To bridge this funding gap, the government recently passed the SHANTI Act, which permits private firms to enter the nuclear market for the first time. While state-owned NTPC Ltd remains a central player, expected to contribute 30% of new capacity, the utility is already moving to secure international uranium assets to fuel this surge in production.