indo -french nuclear deal

Indo -French nuclear deal

India  France may sign deal nuclear energy  also for promoting renewable energy.

NPCIL ,Areva   close to completing the earlier works contract for Jaitapur  nuclear project sign the agreement to promote nuclear energy and also promote investment and technology transfer in renewable energy segment Business standard reported.

France will encourage investments in renewable energy by French companies, while promoting sharing of technology with NPCIL (nuclear power corpora ration of India ) contract for supply of two nuclear reactors of 1650 M.W. each.

The proposal expected to be signed during French president Nicolas Sarkozy’s visit to India during December 3rd -7th .

Official of commerce ministry and indo -French  chamber and industry information the French government  has set a target raising installed capacity India for wind power from present 810 M.W. in 2006 to 25000 M.W. by 2020 and also planning to increase installed capacity photo voltaic solar power from 32.7 M.W. in 2006 to 3000 M.W. by 2020.

French companies can play important role India energy sector a major role while India proposed to increase capacities in solar power and wind power against India total power installed capacity 1,48,000 M.W. out of this India contributing renewable energy only 16,000 M.W. The proposed agreement  would  be  similar to pact between  India -US  that aimed to promote investment and technology sharing in renewable energy.

Mean while environmental approval is given by ministry of environment for Jaitapur nuclear project.

NPCIL and  Areva were in final stages of early works contract for Jaitapur project, it could be signed any time during French president visit. The early contract is essential to start  the implementation of 10,000 M.W. nuclear power project at Jaitapur in Maharashtra NPCIL will subsequently enter into other technology enter technology contract and starting construction by 2011.

According to confederation of India industry (CII) sources the French president will hold an interactive session with business consultants on 7th December. Discussions are expected to resolve around increasing the trade and investment in civil ,nuclear ,infrastructure manufacturing and engineering ,auto , telecom and aviation sectors said a source.

A  meeting is being convened on the   30th November  to finalize the French president  program in Mumbai. It will be attended by French ambassdor,the consulate, the Maharashtra government, police and chamber of commerce.

Mean while  the union ministry of environment and forests (MOEF ) has given  an environmental clearance to controversial Jaitapur   nuclear power project stated to come up in Mad ban village Ratnagiri  district along the  Konkan coast.

The project has elicited a huge out cry with mass protects by local fisherman and environmentalists who fear that it will destroy rich marine  bio-diversity  of Konkan belt but also destroy the livelihood of local population.

Incidentally the environmental clearance  for Jaithapur project was given  in just 80 days from time the final environmental  impact assessment (EIA) report was submitted by NPCIL.

Stressing the need for cleaner  technology Ramesh said nuclear energy was  a cleaner option compared to coal.

“ from environment point of view, nuclear projects is land intensive and greener Today  38 percent  India’s  green house gas emission come from the electricity generation sector. If we wish to maintain G.D.P. growth rate 9 per cent every year then our power sector needs to grow at 7 per cent. “ Ramesh said.

Elaborating on conditions laid for Jaitapur project ,Ramesh said that  a special plan to mitigate on adverse impact on fisher folk community will have to be implemented.