New Delhi, Feb 8 (PTI) Seeking to allay fears over the safety of Jaitapur nuclear power plant it proposes to build, France today said it was already operating 58 reactors and was willing to take locals to those sites for their satisfaction. Talking to reporters here Chairman of the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission Bernard Bigot said he hoped the commercial agreement could be possible this year for the project which is facing protest from locals in Maharashtra. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited plans to establish up to six 1650 MW units there. "You can bring some of the representatives of the local populations and visit France and see how it (the plants) works. We are operating 58 nuclear power units," he said. Bigot, who met secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy Srikumar Banerjee, said the Indian side was "pleased" with the safety review report carried by French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) following Fukushima accident in Japan. The report said the facilities examined offer sufficient level of safety. The Indian nuclear operator was awaiting the report on the safety aspects of the Evolutionary Pressurised Reactor (EPR) which was reviewed by ASN along with the 58 nuclear power units under operation in France. The EPR reactors are proposed for the Jaitapur nuclear project. On the nuclear liability issue, he said France was awaiting the "Indian Parliament to make its final decision and once we have the final decision and rules after the law, we will come to Indian government and see what are the rule which guarantee at best what is the expectation of the suppliers." MORE
