India Nuclear News and Discussion 4 July 2011

[Amber G.]

We are looking to build 200 SMR nuclear reactors in India

The specific claim of building 200 SMR nuclear reactors in India could be a little hype, IMO, but it likely reflects an aspirational projection or long-term strategic goal by Holtec . The figure suggests ambition toward scaling up nuclear infrastructure, complementing India’s r goal of expanding nuclear capacity to support energy security and decarbonization.

Few indicators for this ambition:

- India has begun opening its nuclear sector to private participation, as evident from recent policy moves and corporate interest.
- India’s 2025 budget includes a ₹200 billion Nuclear Energy Mission, aiming for at least five SMRs by 2033.

[KL Dubey]

We are looking to build 200 SMR nuclear reactors in India

The specific claim of building 200 SMR nuclear reactors in India could be a little hype, IMO, but it likely reflects an aspirational projection or long-term strategic goal by Holtec . The figure suggests ambition toward scaling up nuclear infrastructure, complementing India’s r goal of expanding nuclear capacity to support energy security and decarbonization.

Few indicators for this ambition:

- India has begun opening its nuclear sector to private participation, as evident from recent policy moves and corporate interest.
- India’s 2025 budget includes a ₹200 billion Nuclear Energy Mission, aiming for at least five SMRs by 2033.

With the current state of India-US relations, there may be preference for suppliers from France and Russia, and the indigenous Bharat SMRs. We had prior discussions on this thread...several more companies (indian and foreign) are now involved in creating the ecosystem, which de-risks this emerging technology.

[Amber G.]

NTPC to mark nuclear power entry with 2,800 Mw project next month

Marking its entry into the nuclear power domain, state-owned power generator NTPC Ltd will next month lay the foundation stone for its 2,800 megawatt (MW) nuclear power project at Banswara in Rajasthan.

The project will house four pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) of 700 MW capacity each.

“We have decided, rightfully, we will go very aggressive on nuclear. We plan to add 30 gigawatt (GW) nuclear power capacity by 2047,” NTPC Chairman and Managing Director Gurdeep Singh said at the BloombergNEF Summit here.

“The foundation stone laying as part of the JV project with NPCIL should happen next month. It is as close as that,” he added.

[Amber G.]

Book reveals how Ajit Doval uncovered Pakistan's nuclear secrets disguised as beggar
Ajit Doval, working undercover in Pakistan in the early 1980s, exposed the country’s secret nuclear programme by disguising himself as a beggar and collecting scientists’ hair from a barber shop that tested positive for uranium traces.

[Tanaji]

I really do think the SMRs are not going to be successful in an Indian context. This has nothing to do with the underlying technology. I have no doubt they will be safer, faster to install and cheaper to manufacture than conventional ones. However they are not “nuclear batteries” on the lines of RTG that you can say , bury for 20 years and forget about it. We will get there but aren’t there yet. They will still require land acquisition, exclusion zones, security etc etc.

It is an extremely difficult ask to acquire land in India. And when you mention “nuclear” a lot of vested interests get involved to scuttle it. Heck, there is opposition to even a solar mega plant in Maharashtra. It will be more advantageous to build more dense 1GW+ reactors in our context. Sure there is a minuscule amount of space for SMRs - but they aren’t going to be popular..

[gakakkad]

^^ there are over a dozen powerplants under construction already . if its possible to acquire land for lwr/fbr/pwhr than it should be even easier to do so for smr. i think things have improved behind the scenes but more work needs to be done. one seemingly unrelated thingy that 'll have a hige impact in many areas is the end of naxalism. people might remember the kudankulam protests. they were organized by naxal affiliates. a lot of the ngo types have vanished last few years. many lessons have been learned as well.

what needs to happen is the barc /aec need better coordination. they have solid scientists and if u look at any major nook journal these dins the best papers come from india . however there is a massive problem of scaling and commercialization. thats what they need to work on.

[A_Gupta]

^^^ is land acquisition for solar panel farms less or more different than land acquisition for SMRs?

[Tanaji]

^^^ is land acquisition for solar panel farms less or more different than land acquisition for SMRs?

The main difference is NPP acquisition is always done by the government as NPCIL is fully owned public sector body.
Solar plants can be privately owned and captive as well.

In the MH case, it is simple rent seeking. Any ordinary local nobody politico will start an agitation to raise his profile unless he gets his hafta.

[Amber G.]

^^^ Few comments:
Adding to Tanaji's:
Today - Land acquisition for SMRs in India is just as hard as for full-scale nuclear, arguably harder per MW due to exclusion zones.

Future: If (big if) safety regulations evolve (smaller EPZs), and if India allows private-sector or PPP-driven SMR projects on industrial/brownfield land, acquisition could become .. easier...have to see years down the line:

-- At pressent Present Situation (2025) (From reputablesoures)

Legal/Procedural Framework
- All nuclear power in India is under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962. Only the Government of India (via NPCIL or BHAVINI) can build and operate nuclear plants.

- Land acquisition for nuclear plants follows the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR), plus special security and environmental clearance requirements.
For SMRs specifically (Even though SMRs are smaller, they still require):
- Exclusion zones (a buffer area around the reactor, typically ~1.5 km in India).
- Emergency planning zones (~5–16 km, depending on reactor type).
- Security perimeters (armed guarding, fencing, restricted access).

And as Tanaji said Public perception: Anything labeled “nuclear” attracts much more scrutiny, opposition..
Comparison to Sol - Solar projects can be privately initiated and often involve direct lease arrangements with farmers or local communities.

Nuclear projects must be centralized, state-driven, and therefore more prone to political delays, protests, and litigation.

(The “Maharashtra solar opposition” you mentioned was more about local rent-seeking; nuclear projects face both rent-seeking and ideological/environmental resistance)

My hope for the future:
-Policy/Governance Changes - (If the government amends the Atomic Energy Act to allow public-private partnerships in nuclear (especially SMRs)
- Clearer exclusion zone guidelines for advanced SMRs (e.g., passive safety designs with smaller EPZs) could shrink the land requirement significantly.


- If SMRs are marketed as “industrial decarbonization tools” (for steel, fertilizers, hydrogen, data centers, etc.), sited inside or near existing industrial complexes, opposition could weaken.

Demonstration of first successful SMRs in friendly countriesmight help India relax rules over time.
Also as some are thinking
-If SMRs are placed on brownfield sites (existing coal plant sites being retired, or within larger NPCIL campuses), land acquisition hurdles drop sharply.