India and US Forge Deeper Ties in Civil Nuclear Energy as Capacity Targets Soar

WASHINGTON – In a significant move to reshape the global energy landscape, top nuclear officials from India and the United States met in Washington on Wednesday to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in civil nuclear energy. The dialogue, held on the sidelines of a major International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) summit, underscored a shared ambition to leverage emerging technologies to meet growing energy demands.

A.K. Mohanty, chairperson of India’s Atomic Energy Commission, held high-level talks with U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. According to the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), the discussions centered on ongoing developments in the civil nuclear space and the policy frameworks necessary to facilitate deeper collaboration.

A Landmark Goal for 2047

The talks come at a pivotal time for India’s energy sector. As part of its long-term vision, New Delhi is targeting an ambitious 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047. Industry insiders note that achieving this goal will require a hybrid model, moving away from exclusive state control to a more dynamic environment that encourages robust private sector participation.

A significant catalyst for this shift is the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming (SHANTI) Act, which was passed by the Indian Parliament in December 2025. By modernizing the country’s legal framework, the Act has effectively opened the doors for private industry to enter a sector previously dominated by government-led initiatives. In August, the Department of Atomic Energy initiated public consultations on the draft rules governing the implementation of this landmark law.

Global Interest and Strategic Alignment

The prospect of India’s nuclear market opening up has drawn considerable attention from the American private sector. Numerous U.S. firms have expressed interest in establishing nuclear plants within India, with many keeping a close watch on the development of the new regulatory rules to determine the viability of long-term investments.

The Washington meeting also served as a prelude to the launch of the IAEA’s “Atomic Technologies Licensed for Applications at Sea” (ATLAS) initiative. The program aims to explore the deployment of nuclear technologies in offshore energy and civilian maritime applications.

During the summit, Mohanty highlighted India’s strategic focus on the role of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in powering offshore infrastructure. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to the ATLAS program, emphasizing that international cooperation remains essential for the successful deployment of these innovative technologies.

As the civil nuclear landscape continues to evolve, the partnership between Washington and New Delhi is expected to play a decisive role in both national energy security and the global transition toward cleaner, sustainable power.