THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
NEW
DELHI, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
India and France on
Friday reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in the power
sector, with discussions between the two sides focusing on deployment of EDF's
EPR nuclear technology, localisation of the nuclear supply chain and
development of pumped hydro storage projects.
Power Secretary
Pankaj Agarwal met EDF Chairman and CEO Bernard Fontana in New Delhi to review ongoing
engagement between India and the French energy major on the proposed deployment
of EPR reactors in India.
Officials from the
Ministry of Power, Ministry of External Affairs, Central Electricity Authority
(CEA), NTPC Ltd and NPCIL participated in the discussions on the Indian side,
while EDF and the Embassy of France in India were represented by their officials.
The talks covered the
deployment of EPR technology, India's ongoing regulatory reforms in the nuclear
sector, cooperation in pumped hydro storage and the roadmap for a robust and
mutually beneficial partnership.
EDF briefed the
Indian side on its efforts to develop an ecosystem and supply chain in India
aimed at large-scale localisation of nuclear equipment and capabilities.
The French company
also underlined that a sizeable programme involving multiple nuclear reactors
would provide greater confidence to Indian suppliers and help create economies
of scale by leveraging the capabilities of domestic industry.
Agarwal, meanwhile,
apprised the French delegation of progress towards finalising India's
regulatory framework for the nuclear power sector.
This includes the
Draft SHANTI (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for
Transforming India) Rules and Regulations, which have been placed in the public
domain by the Department of Atomic Energy for stakeholder consultation.
The proposed rules
provide for a streamlined and time-bound licensing framework and enable
participation of private and foreign partners in India's nuclear power
programme.
The two sides also
reviewed opportunities for cooperation in pumped hydro storage, building on the
proposed NTPC-EDF joint venture in the segment.
The discussions come
as India seeks to expand its nuclear power capacity while strengthening
domestic manufacturing and supply-chain capabilities, alongside developing
large-scale energy storage solutions to support the country's evolving power
system.
