According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), India and France reviewed ongoing cooperation in the power sector, including the proposed deployment of European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) technology in India and localisation of the nuclear supply chain.
Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, met Bernard Fontana, Chairman and CEO of EDF, France, in New Delhi on September 25 to review the ongoing engagement between India and EDF on the proposed deployment of EPR reactors in the country. Officials from the Ministry of Power, Ministry of External Affairs, Central Electricity Authority (CEA), NTPC and NPCIL attended the meeting along with representatives from EDF and the Embassy of France in India.
The discussions covered the deployment of EPR technology, regulatory reforms in India’s nuclear power sector, cooperation on pumped hydro storage projects and the way forward for the India-France partnership.
According to PIB, EDF briefed the Indian side on its efforts to build an ecosystem and supply chain in India to support large-scale localisation. EDF also highlighted that a programme involving multiple nuclear reactors could provide greater confidence to suppliers and enable economies of scale by leveraging Indian industry capabilities.
The Indian side briefed EDF on progress towards finalising the regulatory framework for the nuclear power sector, including the Draft SHANTI Rules and Regulations. The draft framework has been placed in the public domain by the Department of Atomic Energy for stakeholder consultation and provides for a streamlined, time-bound licensing framework and participation of private and foreign partners in India’s nuclear power programme.
The two sides also discussed cooperation on pumped hydro storage projects, building on the proposed NTPC-EDF joint venture in the sector.
The discussions centred on the deployment of EPR technology, India’s regulatory reforms for the nuclear sector, cooperation on pumped hydro storage projects, and the way forward for a robust, mutually beneficial partnership.
EDF apprised the Indian side of its efforts to build an ecosystem and supply chain in India for large-scale localization, and reiterated that a sizeable programme with multiple nuclear reactors would give suppliers confidence and enable economies of scale by leveraging Indian industry’s capabilities.
Secretary (Power) briefed the French side on the progress made in finalizing India’s regulatory framework for the nuclear power sector, including the Draft SHANTI (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India) Rules and Regulations, placed by the Department of Atomic Energy in the public domain for stakeholder consultation. The Rules provide for a streamlined, time-bound licensing framework and enable participation of private and foreign partners in India’s nuclear power programme.
The two sides also discussed cooperation on pumped hydro storage projects, building on the proposed NTPC-EDF joint venture in this area.