India's pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) manufacturing ecosystem is set to play a key role in the country's transition to small modular reactors (SMRs), with the government suggesting that suppliers will likely produce essential components. 

Minister of State Jitendra Singh informed the Lok Sabha that suppliers of PHWR components are well-positioned to support the development of SMRs, with many key systems for the new technology already within their expertise. The localisation of SMR manufacturing aligns with the Make in India initiative, aiming to strengthen domestic capabilities in strategic technologies.

Components like special steels, pressure vessels, coolant pumps, and heat exchangers, used in PHWRs, can be adapted for SMRs. Technical guidance from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) will aid industries in this transition. The government plans for private industry involvement in SMR projects through engineering, procurement, and construction contracts, which will help build a fully integrated domestic ecosystem. Singh also mentioned that BARC is designing two SMR variants, including a 200 MW and a 55 MW model.