"The two countries (India and France) are also in talks about nuclear power and French utility EDF in Jan. 2016 signed a preliminary pact to build six Areva-designed European Pressurised Reactors (EPR) at Jaitapur, on India's western coast. "But last month, India's cabinet approved plans to build 10 reactors of indiginous Indian design and said that ***India will not buy foreign reactors unless these reactors are already in operation*** [emphasis added]. "Four EPRs are under construction in France, Finland and China, but all are years behind schedule and not a single EPR is in operation yet."
(Excerpted from: 'France, India to cooperate in fighting climate change', June 3 2017, at <http://in.reuters.com/article/france-india-modi-macron-climatechange-idINKBN18U0QD>.) To be sure, "India will not buy foreign reactors unless these reactors are already in operation" is not an official statement issued now. It's a report on, and reconfirmation of, an earlier enunciated position: "We will not buy a reactor unless a plant is operating in their own country" - linked to Sekhar Basu, Secretary of the government's Department of Atomic Energy. (See, e.g.: 'Foreign suppliers urged to step up as India backs own nuclear design', May 18 2017, at <http://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/18/reuters-america-foreign-suppliers-urged-to-step-up-as-india-backs-own-nuclear-design.html>). This, at that time, had virtually escaped public notice. If it turns out to be accurate, it's time for celbrations for Jaitapur and Kovvada; Mithi Virdi got dropped out of the list even earlier. The other point, arguably, of even greater import, which bears reiteration is that after clinching of the Indo-US nuclear deal in October 2008, foreign nuclear reactors only from Russia are on their way (to India), as a consequence. No other country has been able to make the cut, at least as yet. Sukla -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
