[6th April 2026] The Hindu OpED: Transforming India’s nuclear power landscape 

Mentor’s Comment

India’s nuclear power sector is at a decisive inflection point. The announcement of scaling nuclear capacity from 8,180 MW to 100 GW by 2047, along with the proposed SHANTI Act (2025), signals a structural shift from a state-controlled model to a mixed public-private framework. This marks a departure from decades of institutional rigidity and reflects the urgency of achieving energy security and net-zero commitments amid rising electricity demand.

Why is nuclear energy critical for India’s energy transition?

1. Baseload Stability: Ensures continuous electricity supply unlike renewables dependent on weather conditions; nuclear contributed 57 TWh vs thermal 1,363 TWh (2024-25)
2. Net-Zero Alignment: Supports decarbonisation as coal remains inconsistent with climate goals
3. Energy Demand Surge: Requires >2000 GW capacity for Viksit Bharat; renewables alone insufficient
4. Low Carbon Intensity: Emits significantly lower CO₂ compared to fossil fuels

What structural changes are proposed under the SHANTI Act, 2025?

1. Private Sector Participation: Enables private companies to build, own, and operate nuclear plants
2. Regulatory Autonomy: Grants statutory status to Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) ensuring oversight independence
3. Liability Reform: Replaces Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA) of 2010 to attract foreign and domestic investment
4. Legal Overhaul: Repeals Atomic Energy Act 1962, marking a systemic shift

What are the major constraints in scaling nuclear power?

1. High Capital Costs: Example: 700 MW PHWR costs ~$2 million per MW
2. Project Delays: Example: Fleet mode reactors approved in 2017 yet not operational
3. Financing Challenges: Requires $200+ billion investment over two decades
4. Regulatory Complexity: Issues in tariffs, insurance, fuel ownership, and waste management
5. Public Opposition: Safety concerns and land acquisition challenges

How does nuclear compare with renewables in India’s energy mix?

1. Installed Capacity vs Output: Renewables ~50% capacity but only 22% generation
2. Intermittency Issue: Solar and wind depend on time-of-day and climate variability
3. Storage Limitation: Requires large investments in battery storage
4. Baseload Advantage: Nuclear ensures stable supply unlike renewables

What technological pathways are being explored?

1. Pressurized Heavy-Water Reactor (PHWR) Expansion: Indigenous 220 MW PHWR (15 operational) scalable to 540 MW and 700 MW
2. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): Government allocated ₹20,000 crore for 5–200 MW designs by 2033
3. Foreign Collaboration: Westinghouse, GE-Hitachi designs under consideration
4. Advanced Fuels: Thorium with HALEU to leverage India’s reserves

What is the three-front strategy for achieving 100 GW?

1. Indigenisation: Reduces cost through domestic manufacturing (example: China’s $2 billion per MW benchmark)
2. R&D Acceleration: Focus on SMRs and molten salt reactors
3. Private Sector Integration: Enables financing and scaling through industry participation

What role can private industry play in nuclear expansion?

1. Captive Power Plants: Industries already operate 10-200 MW fossil-based plants (~90 GW capacity)
2. Sectoral Demand: Steel, cement, data centres show interest in nuclear energy
3. Economies of Scale: Modular construction reduces time from first pour to commissioning to ~40 months

Conclusion

India’s nuclear expansion marks a shift from state monopoly to a mixed ecosystem driven by reforms, private participation, and technological innovation. Achieving 100 GW by 2047 depends on aligning regulatory clarity, financial viability, and public trust while integrating nuclear energy into a broader low-carbon strategy.