US-India civil nuclear cooperation talks set as SHANTI Act opens India market

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright briefed senior executives from the American nuclear industry. The group plans to visit India next week to discuss cooperation. The visit follows India opening civil nuclear energy to private firms. A 20-member delegation is set to meet government officials and private leaders. The meetings will focus on new business options.

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The delegation visit is organised under an effort by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum and the Nuclear Energy Institute. USISPF reported the briefing in a post on Thursday. "USISPF and the Nuclear Energy Institute @NEI were honoured to welcome the US Secretary of Energy @SecretaryWright for a briefing with members of the US Executive Nuclear Industry Delegation ahead of their visit to India,\" the post said.

SHANTI Act and India civil nuclear sector

India’s recent legal changes shape the talks. The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India SHANTI law took effect in December last year. The SHANTI Act replaced the Atomic Energy Act of 1964. It also replaced the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage CNLD Act of 2010.

The older CNLD Act had strict liability rules for nuclear suppliers. Global firms often saw those provisions as a barrier. With the new law, industry groups expect more private participation. The US delegation is expected to review joint project options. These would be with Indian private companies in civil nuclear energy.

US nuclear industry delegation and 100 GW nuclear target

India aims to raise nuclear capacity to 100 GW by 2047. Current installed capacity is nearly 9 GW. Shaswat Kumar, Fellow, Centre for Strategic and International Studies, linked this to US interest. Kumar said the private opening and scale-up plan create major commercial scope for US firms.

Kumar also pointed to recent US approvals. Kumar said 10 CFR Part 810 authorisations went to Holtec, Clean Core Thorium and Flowserve. Kumar said this suggests fresh momentum in nuclear ties. Kumar said progress depends on quicker US export approvals. Kumar also flagged Indian needs in reprocessing and end use checks.

India-US nuclear agreement and small modular reactors SMRs

Past plans remain part of the broader context. After the India-US civil nuclear agreement in 2008, India earmarked two sites. Chhayamithi Virdi in Gujarat and Kovvada in Andhra Pradesh went to US companies. The plan was for 1000 MW nuclear power plants at those locations.

India and the US are also discussing small modular reactors SMRs. SMRs are often described as easier to deploy. One option is to reuse sites of coal-based power plants. The US is also working to speed SMR roll-outs. It is also studying recycling and reprocessing of spent fuel.

The US has not reprocessed or recycled nuclear fuel since 1970. Abhik Sengupta, a programme officer with a Washington-based industry body, noted a change in tone. \"Legislations like the SHANTI Act and EO14299 have led to a revival of dialogue on nuclear energy in both India and the US. We can expect more opportunities for private companies from the two countries to collaborate in this sector,\" Sengupta said.

India civil nuclear sector and private companies, NTPC-NPCIL

Indian companies have started signalling interest in the sector. Firms include Tata Consulting Engineers, Adani Group, and Larsen and Toubro. Public sector activity continues alongside private plans. National Thermal Power Corporation NTPC formed a joint venture with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited NPCIL for new plants.

The NTPC-NPCIL venture plans at least six power plants. The sites are Mahi Banswara in Rajasthan and Chutka in Madhya Pradesh. Against this backdrop, the US executive delegation is expected to map possible partnerships. The discussions will link legal reforms with project choices. The goal remains India’s 100 GW target by 2047.

With inputs from PTI