Modular India: PHWR Industry Ready for the Next Nuclear Age

India’s pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) manufacturing ecosystem is poised to play a crucial role in the country’s shift toward small modular reactors (SMRs), with the government indicating that existing suppliers are well-equipped to produce key components for the new technology.

Minister of State Jitendra Singh informed the Lok Sabha that PHWR component suppliers already possess the expertise needed for many SMR systems, making localisation a natural extension of current capabilities. This transition aligns with the Make in India initiative and aims to strengthen domestic participation in strategic nuclear technologies.

Core components used in PHWRs—such as special steels, pressure vessels, coolant pumps, and heat exchangers—can be adapted for SMRs. Industries will also receive technical guidance from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), which is developing two SMR variants: a 200 MW and a 55 MW model. The government plans to involve private industry through engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contracts, helping establish a fully integrated domestic SMR ecosystem.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.