BARC Scientists Scout Andaman Islands for Small Modular Reactor Sites

New Delhi is seriously weighing the idea of installing Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to keep up with rising electricity needs. To that end, a group of scientists from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), under the Department of Atomic Energy, landed in Port Blair – now called Sri Vijaya Puram – earlier this week.

On Friday, September 4, 2026, the team met Admiral D K Joshi (Retd), the Lieutenant Governor of the islands, and walked him through a short slide‑deck outlining possible reactor sites and key technical considerations. Over the next four days the scientists will criss‑cross the three districts of the archipelago, taking a close look at terrain, access to water and other factors that could influence where a compact nuclear plant might sit.

The push comes as the ambitious Great Nicobar Project moves ahead. The plan envisions a deep‑sea port, an international container trans‑shipment hub and a new airport – all of which will drive a sharp uptick in electricity consumption. Today the islands rely entirely on diesel generators that are shipped in from the mainland. That set‑up is not only costly but also environmentally taxing, and it simply can’t keep pace with future commercial demand.

Officials have toyed with a handful of alternatives over the years – offshore LNG re‑gasification, even geothermal pilots – but none have taken off yet. In that context, SMRs look surprisingly attractive. They are far smaller than traditional reactors, can be custom‑designed for island conditions, and need far less land. Moreover, they are touted as being easier to operate and maintain, a point that matters when you’re dealing with remote locations.

Admiral Joshi, who also serves as vice‑chairman of the Islands Development Agency, has been vocal about the benefits of SMRs. At the Power Ministers’ Roundtable during the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026, he urged the government to seriously consider these compact reactors for select spots across the archipelago. His naval background gives him a strategic perspective: the islands sit more than 1,000 km from the mainland and sit near the Six‑Degree Channel, a choke point that links the Indian Ocean to the Strait of Malacca.

During the roundtable, Joshi pointed out that several nations operating in Seismic Zone‑V – the same high‑earthquake risk area that includes parts of the Andamans – are already running small‑scale nuclear installations, including floating barge‑mounted plants. He highlighted the rapid scalability of SMRs and the added perk of fresh water generation through their cooling loops, which could be a game‑changer for the islands.

Sources say the Lieutenant Governor was quite receptive to the BARC team’s presentation, promising full cooperation and logistical support as the site‑selection mission progresses. If all goes well, the islands could see their first nuclear‑powered electricity within the next few years, marking a significant shift from diesel‑driven generation to a cleaner, more reliable source.