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2026-08-28 10:17 UTC → 2026-09-04 05:49 UTC ·
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India advances SHANTI Rules for faces talent and funding hurdles in nuclear sector reform expansion
India’s Department of Atomic Energy has released the draft Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Rules, 2026. These regulations aim is pursuing an ambitious goal to overhaul the nation’s reach 100 GW of nuclear framework to support a power capacity expansion from 8.7GW to 100GW by 2047, a goal requiring an tenfold increase from its current capacity of approximately 8.8 GW. This expansion, supported by the Nuclear Energy Mission (2025–26) and the SHANTI Act, is estimated to require roughly $210 billion (₹17.5 lakh crore) in investment. The draft introduces a single-window composite licence covering a plant’s entire lifecycle. To manage risks, the framework establishes a strict, no-fault liability regime. Operators must maintain insurance or financial security—such as bonds or shares pledged investment to the Central Government with a 1:1.33 ensure long-term energy security margin—to cover nuclear damage. These protections must remain irrevocable until all spent fuel is removed from storage. Additionally, operators must provide financial arrangements for decommissioning, site remediation, and radioactive waste management. Certain government-owned installations may be exempt, with a clean energy transition. While the state assuming liability for attributable damages. To integrate foreign technology, imported reactors must be certified by their country of origin and possess proven, operational designs. This dual requirement—needing both foreign certification strategy emphasizes technological self-reliance and separate the utilization of thorium reserves, significant hurdles have emerged. Beyond concerns that strict approval from India’s atomic energy regulator—has raised concerns. Industry experts warn this requirements for foreign reactor technology could delay the deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and extend approval timelines. While major players Reactor (SMR) deployment, the sector faces a critical shortage of specialized talent. This workforce gap spans from entry-level technicians to high-level R&D professionals, prompting NITI Aayog to form a committee to address expertise shortages. In response, private entities like Adani Group, Tata Power, and Reliance France-based EDF have expressed interest, international firms including ROSATOM, EDF, begun investing in domestic training and GE Hitachi are reportedly awaiting final rules before committing capital. The expansion strategy certification programs. Financial mobilization also focuses on technological self-reliance and remains a three-stage program designed challenge. Current sovereign green bond frameworks and green deposit regulations do not explicitly include nuclear investments, potentially hindering capital flow. As the government seeks to eventually utilize India’s vast thorium reserves. The scope of these rules extends encourage private sector participation, global institutions such as the World Bank are exploring ways to hydrogen production, medical isotopes, and applications for semiconductor manufacturing, data centers, and quantum computing. support nuclear projects as part of broader low-carbon energy strategies.