400 companies will benefit from N deal

Paris, Sep 30 (UNI) At least 400 Indian and foreign firms and more than 200 SMEs will be the potential beneficiaries of the civil nuclear cooperation agreement between India and France signed here today, it was disclosed at the 9th India-EU Business Summit underway here.

There is a ''real prospect'' of attracting Rs 1800 billion (29 billion euros approximately) in foreign investment over the next 10-15 years as a result of the private entry into India's nuclear power sector, the Summit was informed.

According to a paper issued at the Business Summit, Indo-French cooperation in the development of India's nuclear power is poised for a ''great leap'' as India needs 147 billion euros in the area of infrastructure and india is looking to French companies for massive collaborations.

Infrastructure and Allied Infrastructure including power, logistics and transportation have huge potential for investment.

About 200 medium and small firms are expected to get into the act as ancillary procedures to the big companies, giving a new direction to efficient and cheaper power production in the country.

Already players like L and T and BHEL are associated with the NPCIL for procurement and construction of Nuclear power plants. The NTPC is going to be another major player in this area.

The deal will also attract French players dedicated to design and construction of Nuclear power plants and research reactors, instrumentation and control, modernisation and maintenance services, components manufacture and the supply of nuclear fuel.

Tndia now needs to look at allowing private sector participation for realising its plans of adding 60,000 MW of nuclear power. This would require an investment of more than Rs 6000 billion proximately 97 billion euros).

The deal would also open up certain key high-tech industries such as pharma, IT, Space and Defence.

The NPCIL, JSW, BHEL and L and T have lined up plans worth more than Rs 100,000 crore for foraying into this sector.

UNI RB GT KN2039