The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) plans to set up a new design unit to support companies and state governments looking to enter India’s nuclear power sector.
The proposed vertical will provide design and technical support to companies seeking to use India’s indigenous nuclear reactor technology.
The move comes months after India opened its tightly regulated nuclear power sector to private participation. With the draft rules of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act now released, the government is working to bring greater clarity to the licensing and development of new nuclear projects.
For NPCIL, the new design unit could make it easier for companies seeking to develop nuclear power projects using India’s pressurised heavy-water reactor (PHWR) technology.
The proposed vertical is expected to act as a gateway for private players and state governments. It could provide technology support, review reactor designs and assist with quality assurance. This would give companies access to technical expertise that has traditionally remained within the state-controlled nuclear sector.
The development comes as private companies are showing growing interest in power. Adani Group and Jindal Steel are among the companies planning nuclear capacity additions in the coming years.
Greater private participation is part of India’s effort to strengthen nuclear power as a component of its long-term energy strategy. Increased private investment could help support projects and expand the country’s nuclear power infrastructure.
The proposed NPCIL design unit will still have to operate within India’s framework. Its final structure and responsibilities will depend on how the proposal progresses and how the rules under the SHANTI Act are eventually implemented.
If approved, the new unit could become a link between NPCIL’s nuclear expertise and private companies preparing to enter India’s expanding nuclear power market.
