France’s EDF pushes for its nuclear reactor tech in India, Pg15

Key Highlights:

• French state-owned energy major Électricité de France (EDF) met with Indian officials to discuss the deployment of European Pressurised Reactors (EPRs) in India.
• This engagement follows India's decision to open its civil nuclear sector to private players and the ongoing finalization of the SHANTI Act.
• Discussions focused on regulatory reforms in India's nuclear sector, cooperation on pumped hydro storage projects, and establishing a local supply chain for nuclear technology.
• The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) recently released draft rules for the SHANTI Act for public consultation, outlining a framework for wider nuclear participation.

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Detailed Insights:

• The meeting involved senior officials from India's Ministry of Power, Ministry of External Affairs, Central Electricity Authority (CEA), NTPC Limited, and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).
• EDF highlighted that a substantial program involving multiple nuclear reactors would boost supplier confidence and achieve economies of scale by utilizing Indian industrial capabilities.
• The SHANTI Act (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India) aims to modernize India's nuclear framework, facilitating private and foreign participation and streamlining licensing.
• This new legislation is set to replace the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, consolidating and modernizing the legal framework.
• India has an ambitious target to achieve 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047.
• NTPC Limited, India's largest power utility, plans to develop 30 GW to 50 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047, including through joint ventures with NPCIL.
• EPRs are advanced third-generation pressurised water reactors, characterized by enhanced safety features, higher efficiency, and reduced radioactive waste generation.

Key Concepts Involved:

• European Pressurised Reactor (EPR): A third-generation pressurised water reactor design developed by Framatome and EDF, known for enhanced safety and efficiency.
• SHANTI Act: New Indian legislation (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India) designed to open the nuclear sector to private and foreign investment.
• Department of Atomic Energy (DAE): The primary government department in India responsible for nuclear power development, research, and regulatory oversight.
• Nuclear Liability: The legal responsibility for damages resulting from a nuclear incident, a critical aspect addressed by the SHANTI Act to facilitate foreign participation.