NEW DELHI(National Times)- India\u2019s Parliament approved new legislation Thursday that enables opening the tightly controlled civil nuclear power sector to private companies. The government termed it a major policy shift to speed up clean energy expansion while the opposition political parties argued that it dilutes safety and liability safeguards. The lower house of parliament passed the legislation Wednesday and the upper house on Thursday. It now needs the assent from the Indian president, which is a formality, to come into force. The move carries global significance as India seeks to position itself as a major player in the next wave of nuclear energy, including with small modular reactors at a time many nations are reassessing nuclear power to meet climate targets and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Supporters argue the legislation marks a decisive break from decades of state dominance in nuclear energy while critics say it opens the door to risks, mainly health hazards, that could have long term consequences. \u201cIt marks a momentous milestone for India and signals capable private sector players that the country is open for business in the nuclear energy space,\u201d said Karthik Ganesan, director of strategic partnerships at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, a think tank. Junior Minister Jitendra Singh, who oversees the department of atomic energy, told lawmakers that the bill \u2014 which has been dubbed Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India \u2014 seeks to modernize India\u2019s nuclear framework in line with technological, economic and energy realities. It also retains and strengthens core safety, security and regulatory safeguards. \u201cIndia\u2019s role in geopolitics is increasing. And if we have to be a global player effectively, we have to live up to global benchmarks, follow global parameters and adopt global strategies,\u201d Singh said in the lower house, adding that the legislation was necessary to address the country\u2019s growing energy needs. India wants more nuclear power and has pledged over $2 billion in recent months toward research and allied activities. Nuclear power is a way to make electricity that doesn\u2019t emit planet-warming gases, although it does create radioactive waste. India is one of the world\u2019s biggest emitters of planet-heating gases and over 75% of its power is still generated by burning fossil fuels, mostly coal. India wants to install 100 gigawatts of nuclear power by 2047 \u2014 enough to power nearly 60 million Indian homes a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Energy experts say that for the world to move away from carbon-polluting fuels like coal, oil and gas, sources like nuclear that don\u2019t rely on the sun and the wind \u2014 which aren\u2019t always available \u2014 are needed. But some are skeptical about India\u2019s ambitions as the country\u2019s nuclear sector is still very small, and negative public perceptions about the industry remain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n