Adani Power eyes 2 sites in MP for nuclear projects, waits for 'rules', Pg15

Key Highlights:

• Adani Power is evaluating two sites in Madhya Pradesh, Bina and Nigrie, for potential nuclear power projects.
• The company aims to develop 10 gigawatt-electric (GWe) of nuclear capacity by 2035.
• This initiative aligns with India's national target to achieve 100 GWe of nuclear power capacity by 2047.
• The move follows the opening of India's civil nuclear sector to private participation, facilitated by the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025.

Detailed Insights:

• The sites at Bina and Nigrie currently host thermal power plants, providing existing infrastructure and substantial land banks suitable for expansion.
• India's nuclear capacity target of 100 GWe by 2047 is a significant increase from the current installed capacity of approximately 8.8 GWe.
• Of the 100 GWe target, the state-owned Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is projected to develop around 54 GWe.
• The remaining 46 GWe is expected to be developed by other public sector enterprises, state governments, the private sector, and joint ventures.
• The SHANTI Act, 2025, which received presidential assent in December 2025, repeals the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, to streamline private sector involvement.
• This new legislation allows private companies to build, own, and operate nuclear facilities in partnership with the government, including provisions for up to 49% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in joint ventures.
• Site selection for nuclear power plants typically requires proximity to water bodies for cooling and considerable distance from densely populated areas.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025: A parliamentary act that opened India's nuclear energy sector to private participation and reformed liability rules.
• Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL): A public sector undertaking under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), responsible for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of nuclear power plants in India.
• Atomic Energy Act, 1962: The previous legislation that largely restricted nuclear power generation to government-owned entities, now repealed by the SHANTI Act.
• Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010: A law addressing liability in case of a nuclear incident, also repealed and reformed by the SHANTI Act.