Recent visit of the Prime Minister to France and Canada has opened up new avenues for mutually beneficial cooperation

The recent visit of the Prime Minister to France and Canada has facilitated forward movement in cooperation agenda identified under the civil nuclear cooperation agreement with these countries and opened up new avenues for mutually beneficial cooperation in peaceful use of nuclear energy with these countries.

During Prime Minister’s visit to France (April 10-11, 2015), Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL), a PSU under the Department of Atomic Energy, and M/s AREVA of France entered into a Pre-Engineering Agreement (PEA) in connection with the proposed Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project to be constructed with French collaboration. The PEA will facilitate NPCIL to obtain details of the French technology, make a detailed safety assessment of the plant and take up the licensing process with India’s Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), as soon as the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project is taken up for implementation.

During the same visit, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was also signed between the Indian company L&T and M/s AREVA of France on April 10, 2015 for cooperation to maximise localisation for the French-designed nuclear reactors in India. The collaboration, through transfer of technology, is expected to facilitate manufacturing in India of many critical components for the proposed Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project, and is in accord with the “Make in India” campaign of the Government aimed at enhancing indigenous technological and manufacturing capabilities of Indian industries.

During Prime Minister’s visit to Canada (April 14-16, 2015), the Department of Atomic Energy entered into an agreement with M/s. CAMECO, Inc., Canada for supply of 3000 metric tonnes of Uranium Ore Concentrate during the period 2015-2020. Canada is one of the world’s largest producers of uranium, and M/s. CAMECO Inc., Canada, is a uranium supplier of global standing. The uranium provided under the contract will be used for manufacturing in India of nuclear fuel for the Indian nuclear power plants under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. It will further enhance the utilisation of India’s installed and upcoming nuclear power generation capacity. The agreement is of direct significance to India’s long-term energy security, and will facilitate India's efforts to enhance the share of low-carbon energy resources in its total energy mix with a view to address climate change.

This information was given by MoS in the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha today.