Jaitapur Nuclear Plant in Konkan, Maharashtra will have 6 European Pressurised Reactors (EPR). The agreements were signed between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited and France's Electricite De France. Once completed, the plant will produce 9.6 GigaWatt clean electricity.
In presence of PM Modi and France's Macron, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), the government-owned Indian energy company, signed an Industrial Way Forward Agreement for the implementation of six EPR reactors at the Jaitapur site in India. Jaitapur is set to be the biggest nuclear project in the world, with a total power capacity of around 10 GW.
The agreement defines the project’s industrial framework, the roles and responsibilities of the partners, as well as a planned timetable for the next steps. Despite having 80% land acquisition done, the locals in Jaitapur in Konkan area are protesting the project over misinformation spread by regional political parties and NGOs. Some fear that the technology is unused in the world. It is partially untrue as 2 EPR is under construction in France, 1 in the UK and another 1 in Taishan, China. Also, nuclear power technology is not new to India. As of today, there 22 nuclear reactors operating in India.
Under the terms of the agreement, EDF will act as a supplier of the EPR technology. EDF will undertake all engineering studies and all component procurement activities for the first two reactors. For the other four units, the responsibility for some purchasing activities and studies may be assigned to local companies. EDF will also provide NPCIL with its valuable experience from the construction of EPR reactors.
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| EPR reactor at Taishan, China |
In its capacity as owner and future operator of the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant, NPCIL shall be responsible for obtaining all authorizations and certifications required in India, and for constructing all six reactors and site infrastructures. EDF and its industrial partners will assist NPCIL during the construction phase.
This industrial framework has already been approved in India and will be bolstered by the complementary skills and experience of the partners involved. In this manner, the knowledge and expertise required to operate the plant can be readily shared. It will also pave the way for the industrial involvement of Indian companies in the project, opening up possibilities for partnerships within the French nuclear power sector. In this way, the project will be developed in line with Indian policies “Make in India” and “Skill India”, with the ever-increasing participation of local companies, reaching a potential 60% for last two of the six reactors.
NPCIL and EDF have signed agreements with French and Indian players for setting out operation foundation for the Jaitapur project. The first such agreement, signed with Assystem, Egis, Reliance and Bouygues, covers the installation of an engineering platform for studies that fall within the scope of the Jaitapur project. EDF will hold 51% of the joint-venture and will be responsible for engineering integration. The second agreement, signed with Larsen&Toubro, AFCEN* and Bureau Veritas, covers the creation of a training centre compliant with standards for the design and construction of equipment for the nuclear industry (RCC codes). The objective is to train local companies on the technical standards applicable to the manufacture of equipment for the Jaitapur project.
Acting as head of the French nuclear power sector, EDF entered into exclusive negotiations with NPCIL in 2016 and in the same year it issued its first technical-commercial proposal for the development and construction of six EPRs. Jaitapur is in Maharashtra state and will be the largest nuclear power site in the world. EPR reactors - with a generating capacity of 1600 MW per unit - are particularly suitable for a country undergoing rapid growth and equipped with a mature electricity system such as in India.
- Chaitanya Kulkarni
Source - Electricite De France, Press Release
The way for the industrial involvement...Boom Lift
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