France seeks bigger role in India’s nuclear push with European reactor localisation

Fresh updates from the financial markets indicate that France is looking to expand its role in India’s nuclear programme by supplying its European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) technology and helping develop a local supply chain for the reactors, as the two countries discussed deeper cooperation in the sector on Friday.

French state-owned nuclear major Électricité de France (EDF) Chairman and CEO Bernard Fontana met Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal in New Delhi on Friday to discuss the proposed deployment of EPR reactors in India. Officials from the Power Ministry, Ministry of External Affairs, Central Electricity Authority, NTPC and NPCIL attended the meeting on the Indian side, while officials from EDF and the French Embassy were present from the French side, according to the government.

EDF told the Indian side that a sizeable programme involving multiple nuclear reactors would give suppliers confidence and enable economies of scale by leveraging Indian industry’s capabilities.

EDF is the technology provider for the proposed six-unit Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project in Maharashtra, where six EPR reactors of 1,650 MW each are scheduled. EPR, or European Pressurised Reactor, is a large pressurised-water reactor developed by EDF and its partners. The six-unit Jaitapur project has an envisaged capacity of 9.9 GW.

EDF has been working on developing an Indian supply chain for the Jaitapur project. The firm has previously held supplier programmes involving Indian engineering and manufacturing firms, with the aim of increasing localisation in the project.

The latest discussions additionally covered the deployment of EPR technology in India, localisation of the nuclear supply chain and regulatory reforms under the SHANTI framework, the government stated in a statement.

The discussions come as India seeks to expand nuclear power capacity from the current 8.78 GW to 100 GW by 2047 under its Nuclear Energy Mission. The government’s roadmap envisages around 54 GW of capacity by 2047 from NPCIL, including indigenous pressurised heavy-water reactors and light-water reactors, while the remaining 46 GW is anticipated to come from other public-sector entities, states, private firms and joint ventures using different reactor technologies.

This creates room for foreign reactor technologies such as EDF’s EPRs. Jaitapur is one of the sites identified for large imported light-water reactors, alongside Kovvada in Andhra Pradesh and Haripur in West Bengal.

France’s nuclear role additionally comes as India has opened the sector to private participation through the SHANTI Act, which provides for wider participation by private entities in nuclear power and related research and development. The government is framing rules under the new law to operationalise the new framework.

Beyond reactor technology, EDF is additionally seeking to build capabilities among Indian suppliers. The firm has previously stated it was working with Indian vendors on localisation and training, while its broader India engagement includes engineering and industrial partnerships.

India and France additionally discussed cooperation on pumped-hydro storage, including the proposed NTPC-EDF joint venture, according to the government.

The Jaitapur project stays the centrepiece of France’s nuclear engagement with India. EDF submitted a binding techno-commercial offer to NPCIL for six EPRs in 2021. The project, that stated, has yet to move into construction, with techno-commercial discussions and other preparatory work continuing at the site.