13 February 2025 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis

1. Nuclear energy – dangerous concessions on liability

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)

Proposed Amendments in Nuclear Laws

• This move is expected to please the U.S. government, which has long opposed India’s liability law that places some financial responsibility on nuclear manufacturers in case of an accident.
• In India, any move to remove supplier liability is a major concern as it could weaken nuclear safety standards.

Concerns Over Costly U.S. Reactors

• The U.S. government is pushing India to purchase nuclear reactors that are extremely expensive.
• Importing these reactors does not make economic sense due to their high construction and operational costs.

Risk of Nuclear Accidents

• Nuclear power plants carry serious risks, with accidents like the Fukushima disaster in Japan (2011) demonstrating the catastrophic consequences.
• Such disasters impact victims, the plant operator, and the supplier of the reactor.
• In India, public sector company NPCIL is likely to operate the nuclear plants.

Supplier Responsibility Under the Existing Law

• The 2010 liability law allows the plant operator to demand compensation from the supplier if a reactor accident occurs due to defective equipment or substandard services.
• In contrast, many other countries completely indemnify suppliers, shielding them from any responsibility.
• However, history shows that design defects have contributed to every major nuclear accident, including Fukushima (2011) and Three Mile Island (1979).

Pressure to Remove Supplier Liability

• Foreign nuclear suppliers oppose liability as it could expose them to financial risks in India.
• They fear that future Indian governments might increase the liability cap, leading to higher compensation costs.
• U.S. officials are actively lobbying Indian leaders to amend the law to fully indemnify nuclear suppliers.

Exaggerated Safety Claims

• U.S. companies claim their reactors have a 1 in 50 million years chance of a major radiation leak.
• However, if the reactors are truly this safe, suppliers should not demand full protection from liability.
• By pushing for indemnity, suppliers acknowledge the real risk of an accident but shift all financial and safety burdens to Indian citizens.

Conclusion

• India’s government is failing to protect public safety by considering amendments that favor foreign corporations.
• The pressure from the U.S. shows that economic and political interests are being prioritized over Indian citizens’ safety and financial security.