NPCIL launches engineering design tender for 220 MWe Bharat Small Reactor

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) has issued a tender notice inviting bids for plant engineering design and 3D modeling services for its 220 MWe-class "Bharat Small Reactor" (BSR) project. The reactor design is based on India's existing 220 MWe pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR) technology, with a bid submission deadline of August 10.

The scope of this tender covers general design and engineering services for civil, process, mechanical, piping, electrical, control and instrumentation systems, as well as heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, pipe stress analysis, and 3D computer modeling. NPCIL aims to select a supplier capable of delivering an integrated engineering solution and providing support for subsequent detailed design verification, construction and commissioning documentation. The project requires suppliers to prioritize quality assurance and comply with relevant regulatory and technical standards.

This engineering tender aligns with India's advancement of the SHANTI Act, which permits private sector participation in nuclear power generation, establishes clear supplier liability limits, and supports the government's target of achieving 100 GWe of installed nuclear capacity by 2047. NPCIL has previously invited companies to submit deployment proposals for Bharat Small Reactors in industrial captive power scenarios. To date, Hindalco Industries is among the companies that have submitted proposals under this framework.

Under the proposed captive power plant model, user industries will bear the project's capital expenditure and operating expenditure, while NPCIL is responsible for reactor design, quality assurance, operation and maintenance. Participating companies are required to provide land, cooling water and capital investment, and may retain surplus electricity after meeting their own power requirements.

NPCIL stated that the twin-unit plant layout is designed to optimize land utilization. Site selection will comprehensively consider geological conditions, seismic conditions, water resource availability, population density and regulatory requirements to ensure unit safety and operational performance.