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1 October 2007 - Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is planning to buy six nuclear power reactors from France during an Indo-French nuclear meeting this week, according to the BBC.
The meeting is organized by the French embassy in collaboration with NPCIL, a top scientist said.
"The two-day meet is to strengthen the bilateral cooperation in the nuclear power sector and also to improve the relationship between the industries of both India and France," S.K. Agrawal, director (projects) of NPCIL said. "We are expecting the participation of over 20 French nuclear companies, including Areva, and an equal number from India," he said.
NPCIL plans to buy six nuclear power reactors from France, Agrawal said.
Areva could be one of the biggest suppliers for its Jaitapur site in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra [western Indian state], which is one of the four coastal sites selected by NPCIL for imported reactors, he said.
Also, NPCIL can enter into business with the French only after the completion of the Indo-US deal, he said.
On that front, US has a time frame for the entire process, including India's discussion with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on safeguards and US negotiations with the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG) countries.
Asked whether other members of Nuclear Suppliers' Group were also in touch with NPCIL officials, Agrawal said the Japanese were interested and Mitsubishi had held talks with the NPCIL officials. Hitachi and Toshiba already have collaboration with the US power majors General Electric and Westinghouse, and they are already in touch with NPCIL for the last one year, he said.
"We will also have our joint coordination meeting with Russian industries on 12 October in Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu [southern Indian state], where two Russian plants of 1000 MW each are being constructed," he said.
India is also in the process of reviewing its Atomic Energy Act to accommodate Indian private industries, the Department of Atomic Energy sources said. The revised draft is ready and is under circulation for experts' opinion from across the country, they added.
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