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AREVA in India Press kit

AREVA in India Press kit

AREVA in India: the facts

Founded in November 2008, the AREVA India Private Limited subsidiary is developing the group's nuclear operations within the country.

AREVA employs about 40 people in its bioenergy center in Chennaï (before Madras).

INDIAN ENERGY CHALLENGES

About 68% of India’s power comes from coal, 15% from hydroelectric power, 8% from gas and less than 3% from nuclear sources. Demand for electricity continues to grow and is expected to triple by 2020.

India must ensure a plentiful supply of low-cost electricity while taking into account 2 key points: the security of supply and risks related to climate change. One feature of electricity supply in India is the significant imbalance between supply and demand: only 40% of households have access to electricity, and the quality of service to those with access is often poor (e.g., fluctuations in voltage and frequency, frequent power outages).

India’s eleventh five-year plan (2007-2012) foresees a 5 time increase in production capacities before 2032, which means a progression from 153 to 778 GW of installed capacity.

  • The Indian nuclear utility NPCIL already operates 19 units with a total installed capacity of 4780 MW and is currently building 7 more for a total installed capacity of 5300 MW.
  • On September 30, 2008, France and India signed a bilateral agreement to collaborate on the development of peaceful applications for nuclear power, which will be ratified shortly.

In the area of renewable energies, India has significant development prospects in bioenergy, solar power and the hydrogen fuel cell. Installed capacity was just 1.4 GW in 2007, but the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy estimates a potential capacity of 20 GW.

  • AREVA’S ACTIVITIES IN INDIA
  • Front end

    In December 2008 AREVA signed a contract to supply 300 tons of natural uranium. It was the first contract for the supply of foreign-origin uranium since the reopening of nuclear trade between India and the rest of the world.


    • Natural uranium was delivered in the first half of 2009 and the uranium, after fabrication into fuel at NFC plant in Hyderab, was loaded into the reactor in the summer of 2009, therefore contributing to the country’s electricity supply.

    • CEZUS, an AREVA subsidiary, is in discussions with NFC to gauge interest in a possible collaboration on manufacturing and marketing zirconium sponges.

  • Reactors & services

    In February 2009, AREVA and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) met in Delhi to conclude a memorandum of understanding concerning the supply of 2-6 EPR™ reactors for the Jaitapur site in the Indian sate of Maharashtra. A technical and commercial proposal was submitted in July 2009.

    As part of this offer, AREVA has begun setting up partnerships with local companies.

    • In July 2009, the group and Bharat Forge Ltd. signed a memorandum of understanding to create a joint venture that will construct a large forgings production site in India.

    • AREVA has also finalized the terms of a framework agreement with Indian engineering firm Tata Consulting Engineers (TCE), a subsidiary of the Tata Sons group.

    The Propulsion and research reactors Business Unit has commercial representation through its subsidiary, 01dB. The subsidiary actively seeks out customers for its acoustic and vibration solutions in India.

    Canberra is also present on the Indian market.

  • Back end

    The group signed a supply agreement to manufacture spent fuel storage systems.

  • Renewable energy

    Bioenergy

    AREVA has been active in India’s renewable energy industry, supplying turnkey biomass and biogas power plants in particular.
    Projects include :

    • 2 biomass plants and 3 biogas units, for a total capacity of 47 MWe.
    • In July 2009, AREVA concluded a “master agreement” with Astonfield to co-develop around 10 biomass plants in India, each with a capacity of 10 MWe. Work on the first plant is scheduled to begin in the last quarter of 2009 in the state of West Bengal.
    • AREVA Bioenergy India Pvt Ltd. is about to conclude a partnership with TPS, a private Indian promoter for the construction of several Biomass Plants totalling 110 MWe in India. The program will be carried out from 2010 to 2013.

    Solar

    AREVA has been selected in April 2012 by the Indian group Reliance Power Limited to build two concentrated solar power installation in the Rajasthan state. These CSP plants will each produce 125 MW. The first phase of the project is under construction, with a target commercial operation date of May 2013.