‘Nuclear plants require lifetime commitment’, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• The SHANTI Act of 2025 aims to increase India's nuclear power capacity from 8.7 GW to 100 GW by 2047 through private participation.
• The Act outlines duties and liabilities for power plant operators, emphasizing safety, security, and safeguards, regardless of sector.
• Investment decisions are shaped by site selection, affordable technology, government support, and tariff viability.
• The 700 MW indigenous pressurized heavy-water reactor is favored for deployment due to its suitability.

Detailed Insights:

• The SHANTI Act seeks to attract foreign funds and private companies to the nuclear power sector.
• The Act provides a unified legal framework separating control regulation from safety regulation.
• Licensees must maintain design support throughout the facility's lifetime and conduct periodic safety reviews every 10 years.
• Maintaining design integrity is crucial, whether the technology is indigenous or imported, to ensure long-term safety and compliance.
• The Act addresses waste management, settlement of claims caused by radiation, and decommissioning of nuclear power plants.

Key Concepts Involved:

• SHANTI Act: Legislation to promote nuclear energy through private investment.
• Licensee: An entity authorized to operate a nuclear power plant.
• Decommissioning: The process of safely dismantling a nuclear facility at the end of its life.