India’s state-run telecom firm BSNL is among several companies that responded to a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) for establishing two 220 MWe Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs) as captive units.
BSNL requested information about smaller reactors, land requirements, urban locations, carbon credits, and government support, indicating a serious interest the nuclear sector.
NPCIL responded that the reactor size is fixed at 220 MWe, and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) will evaluate urban site proposals. Land size, funding responsibility, and plant specifications are already laid out in the RFP. NPCIL stressed that developers must arrange their own financing.
In addition to BSNL, major companies including Tata, Reliance, Adani, Godrej, BHEL, ITC, and Indian Railways have expressed interest, with 687 queries submitted so far. These focus on concerns such as financing, taxation, and ownership.
NPCIL will remain the plant operator under the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, with developers reimbursing related insurance/security expenses. Promoters can also propose multiple locations across India, with new Electricity Rule amendments being considered to allow captive nuclear power consumption.
