JUPITER, Fla. (Diya TV) — In a big leap forward for U.S.-India nuclear cooperation, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has cleared Holtec International to export its small modular reactor (SMR) technology to India. The greenlight enables Holtec to collaborate with Indian entities, including its subsidiary Holtec Asia, Tata Consulting Engineers Ltd., and Larsen & Toubro Ltd., for the design and build of SMRs in India.
The founder and CEO of Holtec International, Dr. Kris Singh, has been at the forefront of this transformation. Singh, an Indian-born, graduated in Mechanical Engineering from BIT Sindri, Ranchi University, before pursuing higher studies at the University of Pennsylvania for master’s and Ph.D. degrees. Singh established Holtec International in 1986, and the firm has expanded to have offices in 18 nations on five continents.
The company’s breakthrough SMR-300 reactor is designed to be safer and more affordable as a nuclear energy alternative. The small, pressurized light-water reactor is powered by low-enriched uranium and generates approximately 300 megawatts of electric power. Its safety and efficiency-oriented design make it suitable for installation in the locations of existing coal facilities, thereby fitting India’s clean energy transition goal.
Holtec’s Indian footprint is well established with Holtec Asia’s engineering unit in Pune and a manufacturing facility in Dahej, Gujarat. The recent approval by DOE increases the company’s ability to support India’s energy infrastructure by introducing advanced nuclear technology. Although successful, Holtec has had regulatory setbacks. In January 2024, the company settled to pay a $5 million penalty to address concerns surrounding a 2018 tax credit application under the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s Angel Investor Tax Credit program. Previously, Holtec was suspended for 60 days from receiving federal contracts in 2010, and in 2019, it settled a $2 million fine with the Tennessee Valley Authority.
