EDF offers to build nuclear EPR reactors in India

French electric utility company EDF has submitted a binding techno-commercial offer to build six EPR reactors at a nuclear power plant in Maharashtra, India.

The 9.6GW Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant will be able to generate up to 75TWh of electricity a year, enough to power 70 million Indian households.

The plant will also offset 80 million tonnes of carbon emissions a year.

In its offer to the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL), EDF said that it would provide engineering studies and supply equipment for six nuclear reactors, each with a 1,650MW capacity.

The project is expected to create 25,000 jobs in the construction phase of two EPR units, as well as ‘tens of thousands’ of indirect and induced jobs.

Once operational, the six EPR units are expected to create around 2,700 permanent jobs.

The project will be completed over a period of 15 years.

EDF Group chairman and CEO Jean-Bernard Lévy said: “The submission of EDF’s binding techno-commercial offer for the Jaitapur project is a major step forwards for us and for the French nuclear industry.

“This key milestone has been achieved thanks to the trust-based relationship built over time with our Indian partner, and the excellent collaboration and continuous efforts of the EDF and NPCIL teams.

“This is yet another significant step towards the materialisation of this flagship project for our great nations, and the establishment of a long-term partnership in the civil nuclear field between both our leading nuclear industries.

“We are proud to support India in this major project, which illustrates the Indian government’s determination to achieve 40% CO?-free energy production by 2030 and which resonates perfectly with our company’s purpose.”

Last May, EDF announced the start of commercial operations at the 200MW Golden Plains Wind Project in Iowa, together with Alliant Energy’s Iowa energy company.