Prime Minster Manmohan Singh's visit to France at the end of September, has a special agenda with the Indian and the French corporates eyeing partnerships for nuclear power production in India.

The NSG waiver has spurred the race to form nuclear power Joint Ventures with Indian corporates and the French are in the forefront.

Anne-Marie IDRAC, Minister of State for Foreign Trade said, “The Indian government has to decide by itself what it wants to do in terms of amplitude and with investments. But everybody knows that France is in a good position and of course we hope that it will be possible for our companies if the Indian government wishes to be a part of this cooperation.”

NDTV has learnt that the three big French nuclear equipment suppliers namely Areva , Alstom, and EDF are in India right now but some key issues still need to be resolved.

 

The major question is that if France gives India a nuclear reactor, will the country also provide the fuel to its reactors?

“The issue is are under debate and all the details will be fixed at the level of the Prime Minister Singh and President Sarkozy, Anne said.

France may also consider reprocessing nuclear fuel for India.

Jerome Bonnofont, French Ambassador to India said, “India already has reprocessing facility and it is in this context that we will address this question.”

France, with 80 per cent of its power coming from nuclear plants, may emerge as a key partner for India,  where only 400 million of its 1.1 billion people has access to electricity.