France And India Discuss Ways To Expedite ‘World’s Largest Nuclear Plant’ At Jaitapur In Maharashtra

French Minister, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, accompanied by a high-level delegation, called on Union Minister of State for Space and Atomic Energy, Dr Jitendra Singh at North Block, New Delhi to discuss bilateral collaboration in Nuclear Energy.

The two sides discussed ways to speed up the setting up of the nuclear power reactors at Jaitapur in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra.

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 as part of an umbrella nuclear deal signed in September 2008.

This would make Jaitapur site the world's largest nuclear power generating plant with a total capacity of 9,900 MW.

Last year, the French company EDF submitted its binding techno-commercial offer to Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) 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.

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.

During the meet, Union minister Jitendra Singh assured the French Minister that the technical, financial and civil nuclear liability issues will be resolved at the earliest by both sides and well before the scheduled visit of the French president Emmanuel Macron in early 2023.

He 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.

He emphasised that the nuclear power plants have so far generated about 755 billion Units of electricity saving about 650 million Tons of carbon emission.

“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 planned to be increased to 22,480 MW by 2031 on progressive completion of projects under construction and accorded sanction,” he said.

It should be noted that the massive nuclear power project was planned long ago. However, the project has been stalled due to several agitations over the last 15 years.

The project was mainly delayed after an accident hit the Japanese Fukushima reactor on 11 March 2011.