A U.S. nuclear industry delegation met with Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Monday to discuss private investment and collaboration in nuclear power.
This partnership is critical for India as it attempts to drastically scale its energy infrastructure to meet long-term climate and development goals. The collaboration focuses on policy reforms, and the integration of advanced technology to accelerate the transition to clean energy.
India currently operates with a nuclear capacity of 8.8 GW [1]. Under the ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision, the government aims to increase this capacity to 100 GW by 2047 [1], [2]. This target represents an approximately 12-fold expansion of the nation's current capabilities [1].
During the meetings, officials explored various avenues for private-sector involvement and the implementation of the Shanti Act to open new doors for industry cooperation. The discussions included the potential for deploying micro-reactors, which are smaller, more flexible nuclear power sources.
"There is significant scope for India‑US collaboration in advanced areas such as micro‑reactors," Singh said [2].
The delegation and the Union Minister also addressed the need for policy reforms to attract foreign capital and technical expertise. A spokesperson for the U.S. delegation said the talks covered policy reforms, India's 100 GW target by 2047, and expanding US-India cooperation in clean energy [2].
By leveraging U.S. private investment and technology, India seeks to reduce its reliance on traditional fossil fuels while ensuring energy security for its growing population. The two nations are focusing on a framework that allows for the rapid deployment of nuclear technology while maintaining strict safety and regulatory standards.
“India aims to scale nuclear capacity from 8.8 GW to 100 GW by 2047.”
The push for a 12-fold increase in nuclear capacity indicates India's strategic shift toward high-density, carbon-free baseload power to support its industrialization. By seeking U.S. private investment and advanced technology like micro-reactors, India is attempting to bypass the slow pace of state-funded expansion and integrate global private capital into its national energy security framework.
