Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), a public sector endeavor (PSU) of the Ministry of Railways, is in dialogue with Russia’s state-owned atomic vitality firm Rosatom to construct Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) to meet the vitality necessities of its 4 ongoing mega tasks, together with the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag line.
A senior RVNL official stated {that a} assembly was held on Thursday with the Russian firm on this regard. He additional stated that push in direction of nuclear vitality is a part of this yr’s Price range announcement to develop SMRs to cut back dependency on fossil fuels and Indian Railways’ goal to attain net-zero by 2030.
SMRs are superior nuclear reactors with an influence capability of as much as 300 MW per unit and require much less space for set up. The official stated SMRs are additionally a part of RVNL’s plan to increase its curiosity and work within the vitality sector.
“The method may be very a lot at preliminary stage. We held an in depth assembly with Rosatom on Thursday. Some senior officers from the Russian Embassy have been additionally current within the assembly. They’ve put up a proposal to construct nuclear reactor of 55 MW. We’ve got requested them to supply price evaluation compared to current system of electrical energy provide for Railway traction. Rosatom will even submit logistical particulars, timeline, and so on. The Russian firm is among the many leaders for SMRs. Due to this, RVNL initiated the dialogue with Rosatom,” stated the official quoted above.
The official added {that a} complete of 4 tasks has been recognized for electrical energy provide by SMRs.
“If every part works out, we’ve determined to construct SMRs for the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag line, Bhanupali-Bilaspur railway line, Yavatmal-Nanded railway line and Indore-Budni Railway line. Below the present system, we’ve to construct many substations and lay transmission traces for the operation of trains. It includes a big expenditure per venture. If the SMRs might be constructed for this objective, the preliminary evaluation exhibits that it’ll save price and supply inexperienced vitality,” stated the official.
Rosatom has proposed to construct a complete of eight SMRs of 55 MW every for these 4 Railway venture.
“These 4 tasks have been recognized on the premise that they’re new line venture and relatively bigger tasks. Rishikesh-Karnaprayag line is of strategic significance. It’ll take an space of 15 acres for a single reactor, which is way lower than the bigger nuclear reactor. Additionally it won’t have any affect within the space which falls in seismic zone comparable to Rishikesh venture,” stated the official.
Union Price range 2025-26 launched a Nuclear Power Mission, which is targeted on analysis and improvement (R&D) of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). The federal government has allotted Rs. 20,000 crore for this initiative, aiming to develop at the very least 5 indigenously designed and operational SMRs by 2033. The federal government has set an bold goal of 100 GW nuclear energy capability by 2047, positioning nuclear vitality as a significant pillar in India’s vitality combine.
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Indian Railways have additionally proven curiosity in Nuclear Energy Company of India Restricted (NPCIL)’s bid to develop Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs), which is 220 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) with a confirmed security and efficiency file.
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