The Centre is looking at the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 that would allow the private sector and startups to participate in the establishment of small modular reactors (SMRs) in the country.

Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, stated this in response to a question in the Lok Sabha last week.

SMRs are sophisticated nuclear reactors that can create a considerable quantity of low-carbon electricity and have a power capacity of up to 300 MW(e) per unit, which is roughly one-third of the producing capacity of standard nuclear power reactors.

Their systems, structures, and components (SSCs) are created in a controlled manufacturing setting and then brought to the project site and installed, thereby maximising both time and money.

Factory-built and ready-to-shift, the SMRs require less capital, time and land than conventional reactors, and can also safely be deployed in populated areas.