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Rosatom and EDF promote large nuclear reactors for India's energy future

The Russian nuclear company Rosatom and France’s EDF have positioned large nuclear power plants as the cornerstone for their engagement with India. They are also exploring small modular reactors to be used in targeted applications.

India wants to increase its nuclear power production capacity from the current 8 gigawatts to 100 gigawatts in 2047. Reports from April indicated that India was easing rules for foreign entities to be able to own minority stakes nuclear power projects.

Rosatom and Indian partners are discussing a range of energy solutions, including large-scale NPPs as well as small modular reactors.

Katerina Astashina (South Asia Lead), Rosatom, said in a panel at the Powergen event in New Delhi on Tuesday that large NPPs represent the most promising and strategic avenue for the further development of this dialogue.

EDF, who is proposing to build six 1,650MW reactors at the Jaitapur Site in Maharashtra has stressed the importance of maximising the available sites.

Kalirajan S., managing director of EDF Nuclear Projects India said that when there are fewer suitable sites, it's always best to choose larger capacity reactors so we can make the most of these sites.

"SMRs are also going to be used in captive power plants by small players that want to create a power system supporting data centers. "SMRs will also play a part in captive power plants for small players who want to set up a supporting power system for data centers..."

India's nuclear energy generation, which is just over 8 gigawatts in size, represents about 3% its total installed capacity.

NTPC, India's largest coal power plant operator, will also look to bring multiple technologies from around the world in order to deliver energy at the lowest cost, according Prasenjit Pala, executive director for nuclear at NTPC.

NTPC plans to build nuclear power capacity of 30 GW over the next 20 years. Sethuraman N.R., William Maclean (Editing)

(source: Reuters)