France: India and France have announced plans to jointly develop small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) as part of efforts to improve energy security and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. The agreement follows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France, where he met French President Emmanuel Macron.
India’s foreign ministry confirmed the collaboration, stating that both nations will work on developing SMRs and advanced modular reactors for civilian use. Unlike conventional nuclear plants, SMRs can be factory-built and assembled on-site, demanding less land and infrastructure.
The announcement comes just days after India signalled a potential shift in its nuclear policy by considering changes to its strict nuclear liability law, which has long been blamed for delays in nuclear projects. The law holds operators responsible for any accidents, creating hurdles for foreign investments in India’s nuclear sector.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri described the initiative as a strategic step, given that modular reactor technology is still in its early stages. Misri stated that, “We intend to cooperate in co-designing, co-developing, and co-producing these reactors, as this practice will help address complications faced in conventional projects.”
The shift toward SMRs observes a new direction in India-France nuclear cooperation, which previously centred on constructing the world’s largest nuclear power plant in Maharashtra. That project, however, has been stalled for over a decade due to regulatory and liability matters.
Earlier this month, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman set an ambitious target of developing 100GW of nuclear energy by 2047. The Indian government has also allocated over $2 billion for nuclear research and development, with a focus on building five indigenous reactors by 2033.
Meanwhile, Modi is currently in the United States for a two-day visit, where he is expected to examine potential nuclear investments with American firms. US Vice-President JD Vance met Modi on the sidelines of the AI Summit in Paris, reportedly researching opportunities for Washington to support India in diversifying its energy sources through American nuclear technology.
India’s federal Oil Minister Hardeep Puri also hinted that nuclear energy would be on the agenda during Modi’s talks with US President Donald Trump later this week.
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