How India's new nuclear rules could favour old nuclear energy partner Russia, Pg4

Key Highlights:

• The Department of Atomic Energy has issued draft rules for the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act.
• These rules mandate that foreign nuclear technology for Indian power plants must have design certification from its country of origin and be operational there or elsewhere.
• This provision is expected to significantly favor Russia's nuclear sector, particularly in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
• Russia's Rosatom State Corporation is a leading player in SMR technology, with its Akademik Lomonosov being one of the two operational SMRs globally.
• A recent meeting between Ajit Kumar Mohanty (DAE Chairman) and Alexey Likhachev (Rosatom Director General) discussed SMR projects and the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP).

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Detailed Insights:

• The new rules could pose a challenge for other global SMR developers, such as Holtec International and Rolls-Royce SMR, whose designs are mostly in the certification phase.
• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear reactors with about a third of the generating capacity of traditional reactors, designed for localized applications like data centers.
• Russia's Akademik Lomonosov is a floating nuclear power station, providing electricity and heating to the Arctic port town of Pevek.
• The other operational SMR is China's HTR-PM, which began commercial operations in December 2023.
• The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) in Tamil Nadu, a flagship of Indo-Russian cooperation, utilizes Russia's VVER-1000 light water reactors.
• Discussions are underway for the serial construction of Russia's new-generation VVER-1200 reactor models and Russian-designed SMRs in India.
• Russia holds unique expertise in floating nuclear power solutions, a new area of potential cooperation with India.
• Russian Pressurised Water Reactors (PWRs) or Light Water Reactors (LWRs) are considered more cost-effective than those from French or US companies.

Key Concepts Involved:

• SHANTI Act: Legislation aimed at promoting the sustainable use and advancement of nuclear energy in India.
• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): Advanced nuclear reactors with smaller power output, designed for flexibility and deployment in diverse locations.
• Pressurised Water Reactors (PWRs): A type of light water nuclear reactor that uses ordinary water as both coolant and neutron moderator.
• Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs): A type of nuclear reactor that uses heavy water (deuterium oxide) as its coolant and moderator.