India and France Reaffirm Commitment to Power Sector Cooperation

India and France have reaffirmed their commitment to power sector cooperation during a meeting between the Secretary (Power) and the Chairman and CEO of EDF in New Delhi. Discussions focused on the deployment of EPR reactor technology, localization of the nuclear supply chain, and cooperation on pumped hydro storage projects. The Indian side briefed officials on regulatory reforms for the nuclear sector, including the Draft SHANTI (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India) Rules and Regulations, which aim to provide a streamlined, time-bound licensing framework and enable private and foreign partner participation. Both sides also discussed cooperation on pumped hydro storage projects based on the proposed NTPC-EDF joint venture.