France and India aim to progress EPR project in coming months

The two leaders met at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Wednesday for wide-ranging talks on global security issues, including events in Ukraine, as well as cooperation in space and action to tackle carbon emissions.

A statement issued by President Macron's office after the talks said: "Both sides reaffirmed the commitment to the success of the strategic Jaitapur EPR project for access to reliable, affordable and low-carbon energy, and welcome the progress achieved over the last months.

"They will increase the contacts in the coming months to achieve new progress."

The EDF offer includes the detailed technical configuration of the reactors, taking into consideration information on the site conditions, and the terms and conditions for the supply of engineering studies and equipment for the six reactors. It is based on the complementary skills of EDF and NPCIL, and aims to build a long-term partnership between the French and Indian nuclear industries, EDF said last year.

The Jaitapur plant, with an installed capacity of 9.6 GWe, would be the most powerful nuclear power plant in the world, generating some 75 TWh per year, meeting the annual consumption needs of 70 million Indian households and avoiding the emission of an estimated 80 million tonnes of CO2 per year, EDF said.

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.

EDF will not be an investor in the project, nor will it be in charge of construction, and with its partners will, in line with India's Make in India and Skill India initiatives, work to encourage Indian industrial involvement. India currently has 23 operable reactors, with eight more under construction.