Senior officials from India and France reviewed ongoing engagement on the proposed deployment of EPR technology in India during a meeting on Friday, according to an official statement. The discussions covered nuclear-sector cooperation and opportunities to expand collaboration in energy infrastructure.

Officials from India’s Ministry of Power, Ministry of External Affairs, Central Electricity Authority, NTPC and NPCIL attended the meeting. The French delegation included representatives from EDF and the Embassy of France in India. The participation of government departments, regulators and energy companies reflected the broad institutional scope of the discussions.

The two sides examined the proposed deployment of EPR technology, along with India’s regulatory reforms for the nuclear sector. They also discussed cooperation on pumped hydro storage projects and the way forward for a robust and mutually beneficial partnership. The storage discussions build on the proposed joint venture between NTPC and EDF in the pumped hydro sector.

The Secretary of Power briefed the French delegation on progress towards finalising India’s regulatory framework for nuclear power. The briefing included the Draft SHANTI Rules and Regulations, whose full title is Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Rules and Regulations. The Department of Atomic Energy has placed the draft in the public domain for stakeholder consultation.

The proposed rules provide for a streamlined and time-bound licensing framework for nuclear power projects. They also enable the participation of private and foreign partners in India’s nuclear power programme. The latest discussions are expected to support further engagement between the two countries on reactor technology, regulation and energy storage, while helping establish the framework for future cooperation.