World’s largest Nuclear power plant to be built in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri in collaboration with France

India has decided to work on a mega project ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit in 2023 to set up six new European Pressurised Nuclear Power Reactors (NPRs) at Jaitapur in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra by joint collaboration with France to enhance the generation of electricity from nuclear plants in the country.

French Minister, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, accompanied by a high-level delegation, called on Union Minister of State for Space and Atomic Energy, Dr Jitendra Singh at North Block, New Delhi to discuss and accelerate the process.

Macron is expected to visit India in “early 2023.”

The technical, financial, and civil nuclear liability issues pertaining to the Jaitapur project will be resolved as soon as possible by both parties and well before Macron’s scheduled visit, Singh assured the visiting minister.

It was also stated that the Indian government has already accorded approval in-principle for setting up six nuclear reactors of 1650 MW each in technical cooperation with France with a total capacity of 9900 MW power generation as part of an umbrella nuclear deal, signed with France in September 2008.

Both sides also reaffirmed the commitment to the success of the strategic Jaitpur EPR project for access to reliable, affordable and low-carbon energy and agreed to sort out the pending issues.

Sources said that the NPCIL would be entrusted with the task of construction and commissioning of units as well as obtaining all necessary permits and clearance in India as the owner and future operator of these plants.

It should be noted that the massive nuclear power project was planned long ago. However, the project has been stalled due to several agitations over the last 15 years.

The project was mainly delayed after an accident hit the Japanese Fukushima reactor on 11 March 2011.