India has drafted a new approval framework for private nuclear projects that is tightly supervised. The regime opens the door to foreign reactor technologies that have proven overseas track records.
The draft rules were released late on Friday, providing the clearest guidance yet since the amended law that opened the nuclear sector to private and foreign investors. Importantly, the law retains full regulatory control.
Under the new rules, foreign reactor designs with a proven operating record abroad will be eligible. Developers will face extensive safety reviews throughout the entire project life cycle.
Regulators will be empowered to halt progress at critical milestones, ranging from construction to fuel loading, ensuring safety and compliance at every stage.