India is exploring the deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as the strategically important archipelago prepares for rising power demand and infrastructure expansion.
Scientists from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) have begun assessing potential locations for small nuclear reactors across the Union Territory. The site assessment comes amid growing strategic attention on the region, particularly as China expands its presence around the Indian Ocean and the Malacca Strait.
The proposed nuclear power capacity could provide a reliable and resilient electricity source for the remote islands, while supporting major civilian and strategic infrastructure projects. The Great Nicobar region is expected to see a significant increase in energy requirements as development accelerates.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands occupy a strategically important position close to the Malacca Strait, one of the world’s key maritime trade routes. Great Nicobar’s location gives India greater scope to monitor maritime activity and strengthen its strategic presence in the eastern Indian Ocean.
The move is part of India’s broader effort to strengthen energy security and strategic infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific, while developing the islands as an important hub for connectivity, defence and maritime operations.
