NPCIL signs MoU with Areva to set up nuclear reactors

Nearly five months after the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) gave its nod to India-specific waiver, the country has signed its first memorandum of understanding (MoU) to build nuclear power plants with Areva of France.

The French energy major will supply two European pressurised reactors (EPRs) of 1,650 MW capacity each, to be set up by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL), the state-owned nuclear power generation company, in Maharashtra’s Jaitapur.

“Its going to be a nuclear technology park with two reactors to start with. There may be many such parks,” said S K Jain, chairman and managing director of NPCIL.

India and France had signed a bilateral agreement in September last year, according to which the two countries had agreed to work together for “peaceful use of nuclear energy”.

“More sites for such nuclear technology parks will be announced soon. Each park will have a capacity of about six to eight reactors,” said Prithviraj Chavan, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office.

NPCIL currently operates 17 nuclear reactors in the country with a total power generation capacity of 4,120 MW. The company is planning to set up an additional 2,660 MW capacity through five such reactors.