NEW DELHI: India is enhancing its collaboration with the U.S. on nuclear safety. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) announced a recent technical meeting with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to improve regulations as India aims to boost its nuclear power capacity.
The meeting took place from August 6 to 8 at the NRC headquarters in Rockville, Maryland, where an Indian delegation was present, as noted in a statement on August 12.
India is planning to ramp up its nuclear power generation to at least 100 gigawatts by 2047, a significant increase from the current capacity of just over 8 gigawatts.
During the discussions, the two nations talked about the regulations needed for new and advanced reactors, as well as the guidelines for cutting-edge reactor technologies. They also explored possible areas for future joint efforts.
Earlier in April, reports indicated that India is easing rules to allow foreign companies to hold minority shares in nuclear projects.
Additionally, India is preparing to permit its private firms to mine and import uranium, a move aimed at furthering its nuclear growth.
Currently, India’s nuclear power generation of about 8 gigawatts contributes to around 3% of its total electricity capacity.
The talks between India and the U.S. also included long-term strategies for operating nuclear plants, safety evaluations, and emergency preparedness for advanced small modular reactors. The state-run Nuclear Power Corporation of India is looking for proposals from industries to establish 220-megawatt small nuclear reactors. This initiative is part of India’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and work towards achieving its net-zero targets.
