Vadodara MSME Develops Indigenous Spent Fuel Transport Containers After Three Years of R&D

Vadodara: In a significant boost to India’s indigenous nuclear manufacturing capabilities, a Vadodara-based MSME has successfully developed critical equipment used in nuclear power plants following three years of intensive research and development.

The equipment, designed for the safe handling, transportation and storage of spent nuclear fuel rods, is now being manufactured domestically, marking a major milestone for India’s nuclear energy sector. Until now, such highly specialised systems were largely imported from overseas.

This achievement strongly aligns with the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as local manufacturing will substantially reduce India’s dependence on foreign suppliers for sensitive nuclear infrastructure.

Notably, the Vadodara-based MSME has emerged as the world’s first facility to manufacture three critical nuclear components under one roof — fuel transfer machines, fuel transportation containers and fuel storage racks. This integrated capability is being described as a global first in the nuclear manufacturing ecosystem.

In nuclear power plants, electricity is generated by turbines driven by steam produced from highly heated water. The heat is generated through nuclear fission, primarily using Uranium-235 fuel rods. Over time, these fuel rods lose efficiency and must be replaced.

There are two main types of nuclear reactors — Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors and Light Water Reactors — each with distinct fuel rod designs and operating life cycles. Once fuel rods complete their operational life, they continue to emit extremely high levels of heat and radiation, making their handling a major safety challenge.

After removal from the reactor core, spent fuel rods are stored within the plant premises in deep, water-filled fuel ponds, often extending up to 42 metres in length. These ponds help reduce radiation and heat levels over a period of six to seven years before the fuel is moved for further storage or processing.

Given the hazardous nature of spent nuclear fuel — often highlighted in popular culture through series such as Chernobyl — its transportation and storage require highly specialised, automated systems equipped with multiple layers of safety.

Responding to a requirement from the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), the Vadodara MSME undertook the challenge of developing these systems indigenously. As part of the project, the company has already manufactured spent fuel storage racks using borated stainless steel, a material capable of absorbing neutron emissions and preventing criticality risks.

These storage racks have successfully cleared multi-stage testing by various Central government agencies and are scheduled to be dispatched to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu. The remaining equipment, including fuel transfer machines, is expected to be completed and delivered in the coming days.

The successful indigenous development of these high-precision nuclear components is being hailed as a matter of pride for Vadodara’s industrial sector and India’s MSME ecosystem. It highlights the growing capability of Indian enterprises to meet global standards in one of the world’s most technologically demanding and sensitive industries.

By converting three years of sustained research into a strategic national asset, the MSME has not only strengthened India’s nuclear supply chain but has also reinforced the broader push towards self-reliance in critical technologies.

With inputs from IANS