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EDF to propose deal for six nuclear reactors in India by year-end

PARIS: EDF will deliver a proposal to the Indian government by year's end to build six nuclear reactors, an executive at the French utility said on Thursday, in what could be the world's biggest nuclear deal. EDF in January announced a preliminary agreement with Nuclear Power Corp of India LtdBSE 1.38 % to build six EPR nuclear reactors at Jaitapur in western India.

"India has asked us to present a complete technical and economic proposal for six EPRs by the end of this year. We are working hard on this," Xavier Ursat, EDF head of new nuclear, told shareholders at their annual general meeting. India, more than any other country, is the place where building nuclear plants makes sense, because of its huge power demand and the need to replace polluting coal, he said.

Ursat said many countries are interested in building nuclear plants or upgrading their existing fleet and that EDF - which is acquiring the reactor building arm of ArevaBSE -0.28 % - is positioning itself in this market. He said that China, where EDF is building two nuclear reactors, would build half of the world's new nuclear reactors over the next 15 years but said nothing about possible new contracts for EDF there. He added that South Africa is preparing a nuclear tender while in Europe Poland is looking at starting a nuclear programme and the Czech Republic is considering renewing its fleet.

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