India opens nuclear sector to private, foreign players under tight rules

New Delhi: India has proposed a tightly supervised approval regime for private nuclear projects, opening the door ‌to ⁠foreign ⁠reactor technologies with proven overseas track records while allowing regulators to stop projects at critical stages of development.

The draft rules ​and regulations released ⁠late on ‌Friday offer the ​clearest ​indication yet since ⁠India announced an amended law to ​open its nuclear sector ​to private and foreign investors, while not ceding regulatory control.

According to the rules, foreign reactor ‌designs with proven overseas operating records would be ​eligible and ​developers would ⁠face extensive safety reviews throughout a project's lifetime, with regulators empowered ​to halt progress at key milestones ranging from construction to fuel loading.