India, France discuss nuclear cooperation

NEW DELHI, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- India and France have begun nuclear plant negotiations under the Indo-French civil nuclear agreement.

Leaders from nuclear companies from each of the two countries, Nuclear Power Corp. India Ltd. and Areva, met for an open dialogue on how they would work together, PTI news agency reported.

NPCIL Chairman and Managing Director S.K. Jain met with Areva officials in Paris and learned Areva is interested in building 1,600-megawatt European Pressurized Reactor power plants in India with NPCIL's cooperation.

India is free to develop nuclear power following the signing of the safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Leaders in India are planning to identify areas across the country where nuclear power plants may be set up through international cooperation.