Atomic Energy dept releases SHANTI Act draft rules
New Delhi: The Department of Atomic Energy has unveiled draft regulations for the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy (SHANTI) Act, 2025. Operators of nuclear plants are now required to maintain insurance policies, financial security or a combination of both to cover potential nuclear damage. This financial security must be maintained until all spent fuel is removed from the storage pool.
Annually, experts will review the maximum civil liability limits for operators dealing with nuclear damage. For foreign-designed nuclear power plants or reactors, the country of origin must certify or approve their design through their respective regulatory body. These countries should be self-reliant in nuclear reactor design and possess a trusted global supply-chain ecosystem.
The draft rules state that a nuclear power plant or reactor must be operational in either its country of origin or another foreign nation. The licensing authority may grant an initial approval while awaiting a final decision, allowing the applicant to negotiate with reactor technology vendors and secure necessary infrastructure. Importantly, a single composite license will encompass building, owning, operating, and decommissioning the nuclear power plant or reactor, with no separate licenses required for each activity.
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