Context:
India and France have agreed to boost cooperation in “high-end technology sectors”, as senior officials held Foreign Office consultations in Paris, and talks between the two sides have not resolved issues on the much-delayed Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project in Maharashtra, despite a revised techno-commercial offer being made by French energy company EDF (Electricite De France) in 2022.
Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (JNPP)
The Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (JNPP) is a proposed nuclear power plant in Jaitapur, Maharashtra, India. The project is a collaboration between India and France to generate nuclear power for peaceful purposes.
- What is the project about?
- The project involves building six nuclear power plants with a capacity of 1650 MWe each.
- The plant would be the world’s largest nuclear power plant by net generation capacity, at 9,900 MW.
- The plant would supply electricity to 70 million households.
- The plant would avoid over 50 million tons of CO emissions per year.
- Why was the project sanctioned?
- The government of India sanctioned the project in 2005 as the demand for electricity was increasing, fossil resources were scarce, and nuclear power was safe.
- MoEF granted environmental clearance for the project in 2010.
- What are some issues with the project?
- Some say the project is risky and expensive.
- Some say the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill 2010 is unclear and doesn’t protect victims.
- Some say the project would lead to social, ecological, and public health disasters.
