India Panel Calls for Faster Nuclear Rollout and Fuel Security to Reach 100 GW Target

A government-appointed committee has urged India to accelerate its nuclear power expansion to meet the goal of 100 gigawatts by 2047, up from the current 8.88 GW. The panel said the average 11–12 year timeline from site approval to commissioning must be cut by speeding up regulatory clearances and land acquisition. It also recommended using existing nuclear locations and retiring coal plant sites for future reactors. To ensure long-term fuel security, the report advises expanding domestic uranium mining, acquiring overseas mines and allowing private companies to participate in uranium sourcing and fuel fabrication. The panel also suggested stockpiling fuel for the entire lifespan of reactors—up to 60 years—and supported reprocessing of spent fuel through a dedicated government entity. The committee backed India’s continued use of indigenous reactor technology but said the country should also adopt newer foreign designs. It recommended overhauling the nuclear insurance pool to provide ₹15 billion in coverage per incident per operator, replacing the current shared cap across installations, and called for easing restrictions to encourage private and foreign participation in the sector.