Special regulatory relaxations unlikely for small N-reactors, Pg13

Key Highlights:

• India's top atomic energy regulator will apply the same rigorous safety and licensing requirements to Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) as those for large nuclear reactors.
• This stance is maintained despite SMRs being promoted for their advanced designs and passive safety systems, and the government's push for private sector participation.
• The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025, assented on December 21, 2025, opened the civil nuclear sector to private entities.
• The regulator mandates design support from foreign or domestic technology providers as a precondition for granting licenses to new entrants lacking nuclear facility experience.

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Detailed Insights:

• SMRs, with capacities ranging from 30 MWe to 300 MWe, are considered a promising option for decarbonizing energy-intensive sectors like steel, aluminum, and cement.
• The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), constituted on November 15, 1983, is India's apex authority for ensuring nuclear and radiation safety.
• The SHANTI Act aims to attract private capital and technology partnerships by amending the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010.
• India's nuclear power program has historically been anchored by indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), which use natural uranium and heavy water.
• India is actively seeking foreign expertise and investment to develop a domestic SMR ecosystem and progressively enter their manufacturing value chain.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): Advanced nuclear reactors with capacities typically up to 300 MWe, designed for modular construction, enhanced safety, and flexible deployment.
• SHANTI Act, 2025: Legislation that opened India's civil nuclear sector to private participation, amending existing nuclear laws to streamline regulations and liability.
• Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB): India's apex authority for regulating nuclear and radiation safety, constituted under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.
• Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs): Nuclear reactors forming the backbone of India's nuclear program, using natural uranium as fuel and heavy water as moderator and coolant.