Nuclear Energy Is Critical For India’s Net Zero Goal: Dr. Jitendra Singh

Nuclear Energy is critical for India’s Net Zero goal, said Union minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday. He highlighted the Union Budget 2024-25’s vision for India’s nuclear power expansion, which sets a target of achieving 100 GW by 2047.

Pointing out the crucial role of nuclear energy in India’s transition to clean energy and achieving Net Zero emissions by 2070, he called for private sector participation, regulatory reforms, and sustained public engagement.

According to him, nuclear energy would be essential to supplying India's energy requirements going forward.

Singh is in charge of the Department of Atomic Energy in his capacity as Minister of State in the PMO.

With careful planning and execution, he expressed confidence that the goal could be reached. "Achieving 100 GW of nuclear power will require a focused and determined approach, adding around four GW annually from now onwards," he stated.

A major shift in India’s nuclear policy is the proposed involvement of the private sector in designing, building, and operating nuclear power plants. Dr. Jitendra Singh acknowledged that legislative amendments to the Atomic Energy Act, Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, and Electricity Act would be required to enable this participation. “Opening up the nuclear sector will send a strong policy signal to industry players, boosting investor confidence and encouraging long-term investments,” he noted.

He stated that in order to facilitate this involvement, legislation changes would need to be made to the Atomic Energy Act, the Electricity Act, and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act.

"Opening up the nuclear sector will boost investor confidence and send a strong policy signal to industry players."

Singh added that the NTPC-NPCIL joint venture Ashwini has already taken the lead in building four 700 MWe PHWRs at Mahi-Banswara. "NPCIL, along with its subsidiaries, aims to contribute nearly half of the 100 GW target by leveraging domestic and international partnerships," Singh said.

In order to create five SMRs by 2033, the minister announced the establishment of a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) R&D Mission.