Areva to import critical parts for first nuke units in India
October 15th, 2010 - 3:24 pm ICT by IANSChennai, Oct 15 (IANS) French nuclear group Areva is at an advanced stage of negotiations with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) to supply six mega light water reactors and will import major components like pressure vessel and primary loop for the first two units.
Areva is seeking to sell six 1,750 MW European Pressurised Reactors (EPRs), which will be housed in Jaitapur nuclear park in Maharashtra.
“We are in the process of wide ranging discussions with NPCIL on our localisation plans to bring down the overall cost. Meanwhile, we will be importing critical components like pressure vessel, primary loop and others at least for the first batch,” Areva India’s Director Marketing and Strategy Patrick Teyssier told IANS.
According to him, the first concrete pour for the two EPRs (light water reactors) is expected to be around 2012-13 and NPCIL’s target date for completion is 2017.
Asked about the rough price of the EPRs, he said the price per kilowatt (kW) hour of power depends on component localisation efforts.
When told about the US-based Westinghouse Electric Company’s component sourcing policy of “buy where you build”, Teyssier said: “Though we don’t have such slogans our plan is to have more local content.”
The US company is hoping to sell its AP 1,000 model reactors to NPCIL.
Citing Areva’s joint venture with Bharat Forge Ltd for making large forgings, Teyssier said: “We are open to lot of cooperation. Indian industry will get large packages. The civil engineering work will be by an Indian vendor.”
He ruled out Areva providing any kind of vendor financing to NPCIL for the purchase of reactors.
According to NPCIL, the price per kW of Indian pressurised heavy water reactors is around $1,300– the lowest in the world.
Added Areva’s senior research scientist Luc Van Den Durpel: “The EPR is around 15 percent fuel efficient compared to others in the world. It has several active and passive safety features.”
Asked whether the EPR has got the regulatory approval from India’s Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), Teyssier said: “We have provided NPCIL documentations running over 1,000 pages. The NPCIL, the plant operator, will discuss with AERB.”
Agreeing that EPR is new to the world, Teyssier said four units are under construction, one each in Finland and France and two in China. These will be completed between 2012-14.
“The reactor is about to be licensed in the US and UK. However, the balance has shifted towards Asia where two out of four units under construction are in China, and India is looking to buy six units,” he said.
- Kudankulam plant to start commercial operations in August - May 18, 2012
- Work at Kudankulam quickens for first reactor - Apr 07, 2012
- Kudankulam reactor faces corrosion risk - Nov 09, 2011
- NPCIL to localise 45 percent components for Kudankulam - Mar 27, 2012
- India to talk to France, US for nuclear reactors - Jan 11, 2012
- Dusting, housekeeping major initial job at Kundankulam - Mar 21, 2012
- Change of guard at Kudankulam N-plant - Apr 30, 2012
- Plans to circulate coolant in Kudankulam reactor - Nov 19, 2011
- European pressurised reactors costlier, less efficient: expert - Dec 03, 2010
- Kudankulam n-plant a step closer to going on stream - May 12, 2012
- France waits for India to clarify n-liability framework - Apr 05, 2012
- Ex-atomic energy chief opposes n-reactor import - Apr 03, 2011
- Indian nuclear plants to bolster safety measures - Dec 11, 2011
- One unit of Madras Atomic Power Station shut down - Jan 03, 2012
- Ex-atomic energy regulator opposes n-deal with US (Lead) - Apr 04, 2011
Tags: areva, bharat forge ltd, critical components, director marketing, forgings, heavy water reactors, hour of power, india ltd, light water reactors, local content, nuclear group, nuclear power corporation, passive safety features, pressure vessel, research scientist, rough price, target date, units in india, vendor financing, westinghouse electric company