Latest news with #SaritaChagantiSingh
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Exclusive-India set to allow its private firms to mine and import uranium to help nuclear expansion
By Sarita Chaganti Singh NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India aims to allow private firms to mine, import and process uranium as part of plans to end a decades-old state monopoly over the nuclear sector and bring in billions of dollars to boost the industry, two government sources said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government plans to expand nuclear power production capacity by 12 times by 2047 and it is also relaxing requirements to allow foreign players to take a minority stake in power plants, Reuters reported in April. If it meets its expansion goal, nuclear will provide 5% of India's total power needs, according to government estimates. Until now, the state has maintained control over the mining, import and processing of uranium fuel because of concerns over the possible misuse of nuclear material, radiation safety and strategic security. It will retain its grip on reprocessing spent uranium fuel and managing plutonium waste, in line with global practice. But to help meet a surge in demand for nuclear fuel as it expands nuclear power production, the government plans to draw up a regulatory framework that would allow private Indian firms to mine, import and process uranium, the two government sources told Reuters. They asked not to be named because the plans are not yet public. The proposed policy, which the sources said was likely to be made public in the current fiscal year, will also permit private players to supply critical control system equipment for nuclear power plants, they said. The Finance Ministry, Department of Atomic Energy and Prime Minister's Office did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Outside India, countries including Canada, South Africa and the United States allow private firms to mine and process uranium. DOMESTIC SUPPLY IS NOT ENOUGH India has an estimated 76,000 tonnes of uranium enough to fuel 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power for 30 years, according to government data. But the sources said domestic resources would only be able to meet about 25% of the projected increase. The rest would have to be imported and India would need to increase its processing capacity. In announcing its budget on February 1, the government made public its plans to open up the sector without giving details. Some of India's big conglomerates subsequently began drawing up investment plans. But analysts said amending the legislation could be complex. "It's a major and bold initiative by the Indian Government which is critical for achieving the target," said Charudatta Palekar, independent power sector consultant. "The challenge will be to define quickly the rules of engagement with private sector." New Delhi will have to change five laws, including the ones regulating mining and electricity sectors and India's foreign direct investment policy to enable private participation in many identified activities, the sources said.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
India set to allow its private firms to mine and import uranium to help nuclear expansion
By Sarita Chaganti Singh , Reuters Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Photo: JAKUB PORZYCKI / AFP India aims to allow private firms to mine, import and process uranium as part of plans to end a decades-old state monopoly over the nuclear sector and bring in billions of dollars to boost the industry, two government sources said. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government plans to expand nuclear power production capacity by 12 times by 2047 and it is also relaxing requirements to allow foreign players to take a minority stake in power plants, Reuters reported in April. If it meets its expansion goal, nuclear will provide 5 percent of India's total power needs, according to government estimates. Until now, the state has maintained control over the mining, import and processing of uranium fuel because of concerns over the possible misuse of nuclear material, radiation safety and strategic security. It will retain its grip on reprocessing spent uranium fuel and managing plutonium waste, in line with global practice. But to help meet a surge in demand for nuclear fuel as it expands nuclear power production, the government plans to draw up a regulatory framework that would allow private Indian firms to mine, import and process uranium, the two government sources told Reuters. They asked not to be named because the plans are not yet public. The proposed policy, which the sources said was likely to be made public in the current fiscal year, will also permit private players to supply critical control system equipment for nuclear power plants, they said. The Finance Ministry, Department of Atomic Energy and Prime Minister's Office did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Outside India, countries including Canada, South Africa and the United States allow private firms to mine and process uranium. India has an estimated 76,000 tonnes of uranium enough to fuel 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power for 30 years, according to government data. But the sources said domestic resources would only be able to meet about 25% of the projected increase. The rest would have to be imported and India would need to increase its processing capacity. In announcing its budget on 1 February, the government made public its plans to open up the sector without giving details. Some of India's big conglomerates subsequently began drawing up investment plans. But analysts said amending the legislation could be complex. "It's a major and bold initiative by the Indian Government which is critical for achieving the target," said Charudatta Palekar, independent power sector consultant. "The challenge will be to define quickly the rules of engagement with private sector." New Delhi will have to change five laws, including the ones regulating mining and electricity sectors and India's foreign direct investment policy to enable private participation in many identified activities, the sources said. - Reuters
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
India's retail inflation slumps to more than six-year low as food prices fall
By Sarita Chaganti Singh and Aftab Ahmed NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India's annual retail inflation slowed to a more than six-year low of 2.10% in June, near the lower range of the central bank's tolerance band, as food prices continued to ease, making a case for further interest rate cuts. This was lower than the 2.5% estimated by economists in a Reuters poll. Retail inflation was at 2.82% in May. Food prices have been the main driver for slowing inflation this year as adequate rainfall boosted output of agricultural goods. Inflation in food items - which account for nearly half of the retail inflation index - fell 1.06% in June from a 0.99% rise in the previous month. Vegetable prices fell 19% year-on-year, compared to an 13.7% fall in May. "CPI inflation edged further down in June on the back of lower food prices," said Sakshi Gupta, an economist at HDFC Bank. The headline and food inflation in June was the lowest since January, 2019, the government's statistical department said in its release. The Reserve Bank of India is mandated to not let inflation fall below 2% or rise above 6% for three consecutive quarters. Prices of cereals rose 3.73% on-year against a 4.77% increase in May, while those of pulses declined 11.76% compared to a 8.22% fall in May. Easing inflation has given room to the RBI to focus on growth. In June, the central bank cut its repo rate by a larger-than-expected 50 basis points. It also trimmed its fiscal 2026 projection for retail inflation to 3.7% from 4% earlier, citing a strong harvest and the early arrival of monsoon rains. "Given this print and ongoing momentum in food inflation, the annual average inflation for FY26 is likely to be lower than 3.7%," Gupta said. RBI governor Sanjay Malhotra said in an interview to a national daily that inflation below the central bank's current projection could open up policy space and that the RBI will strike the right growth-inflation balance. "While comfortable inflation opens room for further monetary easing, we expect the RBI to maintain a pause in the coming one-two meetings and remain watchful of the transmission ahead along with global uncertainties," said Upasna Bhardwaj, economist at Kotak Mahidra Bank. Core inflation, which excludes volatile items such as food and energy and is an indicator of domestic demand, was at 4.4%-4.5% in June from 4.17%-4.20% in the previous month, according to three economists. India's official statistics agency does not publish core inflation data.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
India plans $230 million drone incentive after Pakistan conflict, sources say
By Sarita Chaganti Singh and Shivam Patel NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India will launch a $234 million incentive programme for civil and military drone makers to reduce their reliance on imported components and counter rival Pakistan's programme built on support from China and Turkey, three sources told Reuters. India's push to build more home-grown drones stems from its assessment of the four-day clash with Pakistan in May that marked the first time New Delhi and Islamabad utilized unmanned aerial vehicles at scale against each other. The nuclear-armed neighbours are now locked in a drones arms race. New Delhi will launch a 20 billion Indian rupees ($234 million) programme for three years that will cover manufacture of drones, components, software, counter drone systems, and services, two government and one industry source, who did not want to be named, told Reuters. Details of the programme have not been previously reported and its planned expenditure is higher than the modest 1.2 billion rupees production-linked incentive scheme New Delhi launched in 2021 to promote drone start-ups, which have struggled to raise capital and invest in research. India's civil aviation ministry, which is leading the incentives programme, and defence ministry did not immediately respond to e-mails seeking comment. Reuters previously reported that India plans to invest heavily in local industry and could spend as much as $470 million on unmanned aerial vehicles over the next 12 to 24 months, in what government and military officers said would be a staggered approach. In the past, India has mainly imported military drones from its third-largest arms supplier, Israel, but in recent years its nascent drone industry has scaled up its cost-effective offerings, including for the military, although reliance on China continues for certain components such as motors, sensors and imaging systems. Through the incentives, India is aiming to have at least 40% of key drone components made in the country by the end of fiscal year 2028 (April-March), the two government sources said. "During (the India-Pakistan) conflict there was quite a lot of use of drones, loitering munitions and kamikaze drones on both sides," Indian Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said last week. "The lesson that we've learned is that we need to double down on our indigenisation efforts to ensure that we build a large, effective, military drone manufacturing ecosystem." India bans import of drones but not their components and the government has planned additional incentives for manufacturers that procure parts from within the country, the two government sources said. The state-run Small Industries Development Bank of India would also support the incentive programme by providing cheap loans for working capital, research and development needs for the firms, the government sources added. Currently, there are more than 600 drone manufacturing and associated companies in India, according to estimates shared by an industry source involved in the discussions for the incentives programme. ($1 = 85.5950 Indian rupees) Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
India plans $230 million drone incentive after Pakistan conflict, sources say
By Sarita Chaganti Singh and Shivam Patel NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India will launch a $234 million incentive programme for civil and military drone makers to reduce their reliance on imported components and counter rival Pakistan's programme built on support from China and Turkey, three sources told Reuters. India's push to build more home-grown drones stems from its assessment of the four-day clash with Pakistan in May that marked the first time New Delhi and Islamabad utilized unmanned aerial vehicles at scale against each other. The nuclear-armed neighbours are now locked in a drones arms race. New Delhi will launch a 20 billion Indian rupees ($234 million) programme for three years that will cover manufacture of drones, components, software, counter drone systems, and services, two government and one industry source, who did not want to be named, told Reuters. Details of the programme have not been previously reported and its planned expenditure is higher than the modest 1.2 billion rupees production-linked incentive scheme New Delhi launched in 2021 to promote drone start-ups, which have struggled to raise capital and invest in research. India's civil aviation ministry, which is leading the incentives programme, and defence ministry did not immediately respond to e-mails seeking comment. Reuters previously reported that India plans to invest heavily in local industry and could spend as much as $470 million on unmanned aerial vehicles over the next 12 to 24 months, in what government and military officers said would be a staggered approach. In the past, India has mainly imported military drones from its third-largest arms supplier, Israel, but in recent years its nascent drone industry has scaled up its cost-effective offerings, including for the military, although reliance on China continues for certain components such as motors, sensors and imaging systems. Through the incentives, India is aiming to have at least 40% of key drone components made in the country by the end of fiscal year 2028 (April-March), the two government sources said. "During (the India-Pakistan) conflict there was quite a lot of use of drones, loitering munitions and kamikaze drones on both sides," Indian Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said last week. "The lesson that we've learned is that we need to double down on our indigenisation efforts to ensure that we build a large, effective, military drone manufacturing ecosystem." India bans import of drones but not their components and the government has planned additional incentives for manufacturers that procure parts from within the country, the two government sources said. The state-run Small Industries Development Bank of India would also support the incentive programme by providing cheap loans for working capital, research and development needs for the firms, the government sources added. Currently, there are more than 600 drone manufacturing and associated companies in India, according to estimates shared by an industry source involved in the discussions for the incentives programme. ($1 = 85.5950 Indian rupees) Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
