Technical, financial and civil nuclear liability issues will be resolved, assures Dr Jitendra Singh
India and France have discussed collaboration to speed up nuclear power reactors installation at Jaitapur site in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra for which French group EDF has submitted a binding techno-commercial offer.
Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, Minister of State for Development and Atomic Energy Minister Dr Jitendra Singh have discussed on how to further progress with the project, Atomic Energy Department said on 18 Oct 2022.
The Indian Government has already accorded ‘In-Principle’ approval for setting up six nuclear power reactors of 1,650 MW each in technical cooperation with France which would make it the largest nuclear power generating site with a total capacity of 9,900 MW as part of an umbrella nuclear deal signed by the two countries in September 2008
Last year, EDF of France had submitted to Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) its binding techno-commercial offer to build six European Pressurised Reactors (EPRs) at Jaitapur.
In May this year, a high-level team from EDF visited India and held detailed talks with NPCIL officials.
Dr Jitendra Singh had assured the visiting French Minister that the technical, financial and civil nuclear liability issues will be resolved at the earliest by both the sides and well before the scheduled visit of the French president Emmanuel Macron in early 2023 as announced by Chrysoula Zacharopoulou.
The French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire is also scheduled to visit India by the middle of December.
Both sides have reaffirmed their commitment to the strategic Jaitapur EPR project for access to reliable, affordable and low-carbon energy and agreed to sort out pending issues at the earliest.
NPCIL will be responsible for the construction and commissioning of the units, as well as obtaining all necessary permits and consents in India as the owner and future operator of the plant. This includes certification of the EPR technology by the Indian regulator.
Dr Jitendra Singh recalled that nuclear power is clean and environment friendly, apart from having a huge potential to ensure the country’s long term energy security on a sustainable basis. The nuclear power plants in India have so far generated about 755 billion Units of electricity saving about 650 million tons of CO2 emission.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that the net zero targets are expected to be met through a combination of various clean energy sources including nuclear power.
In this context, the present nuclear power capacity of 6,780 MW is to be increased to 22,480 MW by 2031 on progressive completion of under construction and sanctioned projects. fiinews.com
