India, France review proposed EPR tech deployment in domestic market

Senior officials of India and France on Friday reviewed the ongoing engagement on the proposed deployment of EPR technology in the domestic market, an official statement said.

The meeting was attended by officials from the Ministry of Power, the Ministry of External Affairs, Central Electricity Authority (CEA), NTPC Ltd, and NPCIL on the Indian side, and officials of EDF and the Embassy of France in India on the French side, the statement said.

Discussions centred on the deployment of EPR technology, India’s regulatory reforms for the nuclear sector, cooperation on pumped hydro storage projects, and the way forward for a robust, mutually beneficial partnership, the Ministry of Power said.

The two sides also discussed cooperation on pumped hydro storage projects, building on the proposed NTPC-EDF joint venture in this area.

Secretary (Power) briefed the French side on the progress made in finalising India’s regulatory framework for the nuclear power sector, including the Draft SHANTI (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India) Rules and Regulations, placed by the Department of Atomic Energy in the public domain for stakeholder consultation.

The rules provide for a streamlined, time-bound licensing framework and enable participation of private and foreign partners in India’s nuclear power programme.