9MAY 2025INDIA BOOSTS INLAND WATERWAYS WITH RHENUS LOGISTICS PARTNERSHIPINDIA'S NUCLEAR AMBITIONS FACE POLICY HURDLES DESPITE PRIVATE SECTOR INTERESTIndia's ambitious goal to achieve 100 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power capacity by 2047 is garnering significant interest from the private sector, but a report by SBI Capital Markets highlights that policy gaps must be addressed to ensure substantial private contributions. The report underscores the need for streamlined approvals, clearer cost allocation, and enhanced incentives to meet the target of private companies leading at least 50% of the nuclear capacity development.The Bharatiya Small Reactor program is a key move to bring private players on board, but the report warns that bureaucratic hurdles could hold it back. "This isn't just about building power plants," it says, noting that companies making things like turbines, generators, or cooling systems could also cash in, creating jobs and driving new ideas in the nuclear industry.India's rivers are getting a big boost with a fresh deal between the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Rhenus Logistics India. Signed on May 6, 2025, this agreement will bring 100 barges to the country's major waterways, with plans to haul over a million tonnes of cargo every year by the end of 2025.For starters, 20 barges and six pushers will hit the water on rivers like the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Barak, plus the Indo-Bangladesh route. These boats are built to glide This nuclear push ties into India's goal of going carbon-neutral by 2070. Right now, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India runs 24 reactors that produce 8,180 megawatts--a far cry from the 100-gigawatt goal. India's three-stage nuclear plan, which uses its huge thorium reserves, is meant to help the country rely less on foreign energy. Still, high costs and public fears about safety, like those seen in protests over projects in Kudankulam and Jaitapur, are tough obstacles.External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently called for updating India's nuclear liability law to win over foreign investors. "The current law has not instilled confidence in the global nuclear industry," he said, adding that fixing it could attract more international support. There's also a proposal to change the Atomic Energy Act to allow up to 49% foreign investment in nuclear projects, which could give the sector a big lift.Private companies are eager to jump in, but the SBI report warns that without quick policy changes, India's nuclear ambitions might stall. The government needs to move fast to set up clear, welcoming rules that encourage both local and foreign companies to invest in a cleaner, more sustainable energy future for India. through shallow spots, carrying everything from big bulk loads to smaller shipments across northern, eastern, and northeastern India. Later on, the project will spread to other rivers, helping tie together India's transport network in a smarter way.At the signing, Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, shared his excitement. "Inland waterways provide a greener, cost-effective, and efficient logistics solution, aligning with our sustainable development goals," he said. The ministry noted that using waterways cuts down on pollution and takes pressure off India's busy highways.Rhenus Logistics, a global company that runs over 1,100 barges, is bringing its river expertise from Europe to India. Their boats are designed to handle cargo smoothly, even when rivers get tricky.India's waterways have already come a long way. In 2014-15, just three were in use. By 2023-24, that number grew to 24, with 29 planned for this year. The amount of cargo moved by water has skyrocketed too, jumping from 30 million metric tonnes a year in 2014-15 to 133 million in 2023-24, totaling 779 million tonnes over the last decade.This deal is a game-changer for how India moves goods, promising a boost to the economy and a nod to greener transport. It's also set to strengthen trade and connections across South Asia as the network grows.
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