India and U.S. Energy Leaders Meet to Expand Nuclear Collaboration

At a side event of an IAEA offshore atomic energy program in Washington, A K Mohanty, chair of India's Atomic Energy Commission, met with U.S. Department of Energy secretary Chris Wright to explore further nuclear cooperation. The dialogue highlighted India's ambition to achieve 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047, a plan that envisions contributions from government and private investors. The SHANTI Act, passed in December 2025, opened the nuclear market to private participation, and the Department of Atomic Energy recently launched a public consultation on draft rules to modernise the legal framework.

Several U.S. firms have expressed interest in constructing nuclear plants in India and are monitoring the rule-making process. The talks also touched on the IAEA's new ATLAS programme, which aims to develop small modular reactors for offshore and maritime civilian use, with India pledging to share its expertise. Both sides emphasized the importance of international collaboration in advancing nuclear technology.