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As India Opens Nuclear Power to Private Sector, Investors Call for Independent Advisory Body

India’s move to open nuclear power generation to private participation has prompted investors and industry stakeholders to seek the creation of an independent techno-commercial advisory body to support new entrants in navigating the country’s highly regulated nuclear energy sector.

Prospective investors have highlighted the need for structured guidance on design, engineering, reactor technology, site selection, operations and maintenance strategies, as well as policy-related support, to enable smooth entry and execution of nuclear power projects.

Commenting on the issue, Amit Sharma, Managing Director and CEO of Tata Consulting Engineers, said that the passage of the SHANTI Bill has created an opportunity to institutionalise technical support for private players.

“Post the SHANTI Bill, it would be helpful to establish an independent body, agency, or entity under the Ministry or the Department of Science and Technology to guide new entrants from the Indian private sector who will require expert advice and technical support,” Sharma said.

Even for indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), demand is expected to rise sharply as more companies enter the nuclear space, according to a panel on India’s 100 GW nuclear energy roadmap, constituted in February 2025.

Industry officials noted that indigenous PHWRs have emerged as the most attractive option for upcoming utility-scale nuclear projects due to a well-established domestic supply chain and competitive tariffs already achieved for this reactor technology.

However, the panel cautioned that Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL)—which is targeting 54 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047 under its own expansion plans—may face limitations in simultaneously scaling up its fleet while mentoring multiple private players seeking to deploy PHWR-based projects. These observations were outlined in the panel’s report released in October 2025.

The panel recommended the establishment of a dedicated and independent technical support entity to assist private companies with PHWR technology and other indigenous nuclear technologies once they are commercially deployable.

A senior industry executive, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that such an advisory institution should ideally support all nuclear technologies, rather than being limited to PHWRs alone.

Industry experts described the proposal as a critical enabling measure for broader participation in India’s nuclear sector, noting that access to standardised expertise and advisory support would help reduce entry barriers and build investor confidence as the country pursues its long-term nuclear energy ambitions.