Chennai:
France on Tuesday said that the Indian fears over performance of third generation EPR reactors built by
Areva would be quelled after watching the performance of the similar two
reactors which is being built in China.
Vouching for the safety
of the EPR reactors, French ambassador Francois Richier, while addressing a
Confederation of Indian Industry function, said that China has purchased such two
reactors from China and the reactors will be go critical before the Indian ones
would get commissioned.
“When these reactors in
China will start producing power, India can witness its performance and this
could instil confidence over the functioning of the nuclear reactor,” said the
ambassador.
The concern over safety
issues following the Fukushima accident and confusion over some clauses of
civil nuclear liability law that puts the onus on suppliers in case of
accidents has resultied in the project failing to take off the ground in
Jaitapur. He said “There are several issues and talks are going between NPCIL and Areva to
start the project. The issue could be resolved within a matter of months. But
how many months, I won’t be able to tell,” he said.
He also said the EPR reactors
to be installed in Jaitapur are more powerful than the Koodankulam reactors as
each would generate 1650 MW of power when compared to other reactors generating
1,000MW of power.
Richier who is meeting
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday said that Tamil Nadu
is the hot spot for French investments. “More and more French companies are
keen to invest in Tamil Nadu,” he said while trying to maintain silence on what
the talks would focus on.
He said France has a
total investment worth $18 billion in India of which one quarter is in Tamil
Nadu.
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