NEW DELHI: India and France have signed an MoU for the construction of six nuclear reactors at Jaitapur in Maharashtra. Development happened nearly two months after the two countries decided to conclude the negotiations for the project by the year end. According to sources, the pact was inked on Tuesday at the end of the two-day visit of a high-level delegation of Electricite de France (EDF - French public utility) to Mumbai for holding discussions with the National Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) on the construction of the plants.
French Ambassador to India Francois Richier, who was present on the occasion, reiterated his country’s commitment to work seamlessly with India through a collaborative approach to enable both sides to contribute collectively to the development of nuclear energy in India in the most economical manner. The EDF visit was a follow-up on the State Visit of French President Francois Hollande to India in January, during which France and India drew up a cooperation roadmap for concluding techno-commercial negotiations for the Jaitapur project by the end of 2016.
It may be recalled that, on this occasion, Modi and Hollande welcomed the initialising of an updated MoU between EDF and NPCIL for the construction of six EPR units at Jaitapur. This updated MoU was formally signed by EDF and NPCIL on 22nd of March,” the sources said.