India must reduce nuclear project timelines, secure long-term uranium supplies, and expand its reprocessing capacity to meet its energy ambitions, a government-appointed panel has recommended in a report reviewed by Reuters.

The panel, set up by the Ministry of Power, has urged sweeping reforms to accelerate India’s nuclear power expansion, as the country seeks to reach 100 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear capacity by 2047, up from the current 8.88 GW.

India is already easing decades-old restrictions by ending the state monopoly in the sector and relaxing stringent liability provisions, in order to attract private investment and foreign technology suppliers.

According to the report, the average time from site approval to reactor commissioning, currently 11 to 12 years, must be shortened through faster land acquisition, quicker environmental and regulatory clearances, and streamlined project execution.

The panel also recommended using existing sites and repurposing retired thermal power plant locations for future nuclear projects to minimise land and infrastructure constraints.

To ensure long-term energy security, the committee advised the government to:

Boost domestic uranium mining and acquire mines abroad.

Open uranium sourcing and fuel fabrication to private firms.

Stockpile uranium fuel sufficient for the full 60-year lifespan of nuclear reactors.

The report further emphasised the importance of reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, suggesting this be managed by a dedicated government entity to ensure safety and accountability.

While India intends to continue deploying its indigenously developed reactor designs, the panel urged the adoption of newer, advanced foreign reactor technologies to diversify the energy mix and enhance efficiency.

On the issue of nuclear liability, the committee proposed restructuring the nuclear insurance pool to provide Rs 15 billion (USD 169 million) coverage per incident per operator, instead of maintaining caps on total annual liability across all installations.

The recommendations come as India ramps up its clean energy transition, with nuclear power seen as a crucial component for achieving net-zero emissions while ensuring energy reliability in the coming decades.