Parl passes nuclear energy bill, paves way for pvt investments

Both Houses of Parliament have cleared the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Bill, 2025 or SHANTI bill after the Rajya Sabha approved the legislation on Thursday through a voice vote, paving way for private investments in the atomic energy sector.

- Saubhadra Chatterji and Sejal Sharma

On Wednesday, the Lok Sabha passed the bill amid a walkout by Opposition MPs.

Replying to the debate on the bill, Union minister of state for atomic energy told the Upper House that the public sector would remain as the engine of growth, after former Union minister of environment Jairam Ramesh repeatedly urged for a large role of public sector companies in the atomic energy sector.

The minister clarified that the government will set a threshold limit of uranium or thorium in the minerals being mined, beyond which private participation will not be allowed.

“Exploration is allowed for private partners. But (during) mining—if there is more than a certain limit of uranium the private partners will not be allowed to mine. It will be a part of the rules,” Singh said,.