The lower house of the Indian parliament (Lok Sabha) has passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill approved by the Indian cabinet earlier in December. The Bill now moves to the Rajya Sabha (upper house) for discussion following which it can be signed into law.
The Bill repeals the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010, consolidating them into a comprehensive, modern legal framework to support India’s expanding energy needs. The bill aims enabling private companies, including joint ventures and other entities, to apply for licences to set up and operate nuclear facilities and to transport nuclear fuel. It also seeks to revise the nuclear liability framework, which has deterred foreign investment in India’s nuclear sector.
The legislation was approved with a voice vote amid a walkout by the Opposition objecting to changing the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, which placed the liability for a nuclear incident on to equipment suppliers. Operator liability is now capped at the rupee equivalent of 300m Special Drawing Rights ($432m), or such higher amount as the Central government may, by notification, specify.
Piloting the Bill, Union Minister of State for Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh described the legislation as a “nuclear renaissance” for India. “India’s role in geopolitics is increasing. If we have to be a global player, we have to follow global benchmarks and global strategies. The world is moving towards clean energy. We too have set a target of 100 GW of nuclear energy capacity by 2047,” he said.
