Private and public sector companies developing nuclear power projects are demanding significant regulatory reforms to accelerate project execution. According to reports from Business Standard, Vivek Sharma, Business Head at Adani Atomic Energy, emphasized the need for shorter regulatory approval timelines, standardised designs, and greater technology indigenisation to reduce costs and speed up project implementation. Sharma highlighted that 700 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) and Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) technologies represent the low-hanging fruit and are expected to play a prominent role in the first phase of the country's nuclear mission, given that the related supply chain is almost entirely indigenised. However, as reported at the BNEF Summit in New Delhi, these technologies alone will not be sufficient to meet the ambitious 100 GW target.
Industry leaders are advocating for global technology providers to localise their manufacturing operations in India. As reported by Business Standard, Sharma stated that conducting some studies in parallel can reduce execution timelines, with companies investing in end-to-end studies to save time. He emphasized that regulatory approval for standardised and operational designs is expected to be much faster than for new technologies, with the approval process largely limited to site-specific requirements and not involving reassessment of designs each time. Sharma noted that the key challenge for nuclear power to make commercial sense is for consumers to buy it at an acceptable price, making localisation crucial for cost competitiveness.
K Shanmugha Sundaram, Director of Projects at NTPC, outlined the significant timeline challenges facing nuclear power projects. According to Business Standard, land acquisition alone can take at least 2.5 to 4 years for greenfield projects, while historically, from first pour of concrete to commercialisation, plants have been completed in around 5 to 6 years. Including land acquisition time, the overall timeline for greenfield sites could extend to 12-13 years. However, at brownfield sites with existing infrastructure, plants can be commissioned in around 7 to 8 years. Sundaram noted that if you include the time required to reach FPC, including land acquisition, it could add another six to seven years for greenfield projects.
Industry participants outlined ambitious capacity targets for India's nuclear sector. As reported by Business Standard, Sundaram stated that NTPC's 30 GW target will involve all four technologies — PHWR, PWR, Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) and Small Modular Reactor (SMR) — with at least 80 per cent coming from PHWR and PWR. He suggested that if 10 different developers develop five units of 700 MW at each plant simultaneously, India could reach around 40 GW of capacity within 15 years. The key enablers identified include financing and regulatory frameworks to make nuclear power more affordable.
Companies are adopting strategic approaches to site selection and project implementation. According to Business Standard, Adani Atomic Energy has already evaluated more than 50 sites and shortlisted five to six sites, with ongoing investments in studies and groundwork. Sharma emphasized that companies have to be strategic about site selection, particularly where land is readily available or can be acquired with relative ease. The company is prepared to bear upfront costs to complete all required studies together and ensure 100 per cent regulatory compliance. Naveen Ahlawat from Jindal Steel Limited highlighted that the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy under the SHANTI Act needs strengthening to leverage foreign capital at lower cost of capital, while the country must train batches of nuclear engineers every year with a strong pool of around 150-200 dedicated professionals required before starting the first project.
