Atomic juncture

In the first week of January came a slew of media reports stating that the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited, a state-owned company, has inked agreements with foreign firms to explore collaborations for nuclear power projects in India. These include Russia’s Rosatom, France’s Électricité de France SA (EDF) and the US’ Clean Core Thorium Energy. Reports of the deals in such quick succession can be attributed to the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Act, 2025, or SHANTI Act, passed by the Parliament in December. Amit Kapur, an infrastructure lawyer and partner at JSAAdvocates & Solicitors, Delhi, says undoing supplier liability provisions was politically and commercially necessary. “The government needs to communicate clearly how the revised framework will hold operators accountable and ensure prompt compensation through insurance pools and other mechanisms,” he adds. Read more