EDF signs preliminary deal to make six nuclear plants in India

French utility EDF (EDF.PA) aforesaid on weekday it had signed a preliminary agreement with atomic energy business firm of India Ltd (NPCIL) to make six nuclear reactors at Jaitapur, within the west of India.

EDF is taking on the long-delayed project, that may become the world's biggest nuclear contract, from fellow French collectivized cluster Areva (AREVA.PA), which is able to sell its reactor arm to EDF later this year.

The Jaitapur project is at the preliminary technical studies stage once obtaining initial environmental clearance in 2010, EDF aforesaid in an exceedingly statement. A contract for pre-engineering studies was signed by Areva and NPCIL last Gregorian calendar month.

EDF aforesaid that within the next few months it might continue work started by Areva and NPCIL to secure certification for the ecu controlled Reactor (EPR) reactor in India and to finalize the economic and monetary conditions.

The six 1650 power unit EPR reactors with a combined capability of nearly ten,000 MW would create Jaitapur one in every of the world's biggest nuclear sites and therefore the contract, if finalised, one in every of the most important within the history of the nuclear business.

But Indian legislation on manufacturer's liability has long blocked French, North American nation and Russian nuclear comes within the country.

General electrical (GE.N) Chairman Jeff Immelt aforesaid in Sept that GE won't invest in nuclear energy in India till accident liability laws square measure brought in line with international practise.

With the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy in mind, India's parliament passed a law six years agone that creates instrumentation suppliers accountable for associate degree accident.

Strong native opposition to the project, wrangling over value, huge delays and value overruns at EPRs below construction in France and Republic of Finland and therefore the takeover of Areva's reactor arm by EDF are delaying the large project.

French President Francois Hollande, creating a state visit to India, aforesaid on Monday that associate degree agreement to make the six nuclear reactors ought to be all over at intervals a year.

Hollande and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi aforesaid in an exceedingly joint statement they'd in agreement to hasten the nuclear talks and aim for construction to start in early 2017.

EDF additionally aforesaid its EDF Energies Nouvelles unit had in agreement to a partnership with India's SITAC to to make four onshore wind farms by the top of 2016 with a complete capability of 142 MW within the state of Gujarat.