Cabinet nod to key amendment sets stage to open up n-power, Pg13

Key Highlights:

• The Atomic Energy Bill, 2025 has been cleared to amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1962, allowing private companies to participate in nuclear power plant operations.
• Private players can now hold up to 49% equity in upcoming nuclear power projects, potentially attracting foreign investment.
• India aims to add 100 GWe of nuclear capacity by 2047, up from the current 8 GWe.
• A Nuclear Energy Mission with an outlay of Rs 20,000 crore has been established for the R&D of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), targeting five indigenously developed SMRs by 2033.

Detailed Insights:

• The amendments aim to leverage the Indo-US civil nuclear deal and are part of a broader trade and investment outreach with the United States.
• India seeks collaborations to address the need for base load alternatives to coal-fired capacity and to secure capital for scaling up nuclear power.
• The amendments also address concerns related to the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 (CLNDA), particularly the "right of recourse" provision, to encourage foreign investment.
• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are being promoted as a technology to provide base load power and aid in industrial decarbonization.
• The focus on renewables has led to grid instability due to their intermittent nature, highlighting the need for stable base load power sources like nuclear energy.
• The approved bill has been renamed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Base Load Power: The minimum level of electricity demand required at all times, typically provided by power plants that can run continuously.
• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): Advanced nuclear reactors with a smaller generating capacity than traditional reactors, offering flexibility and decarbonization potential.
• Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 (CLNDA): Indian law that establishes a framework for compensating victims of nuclear accidents and allocating liability.