Energy company EDF on Friday said that it had submitted a binding techno-commercial offer to Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) for building six reactors of the proposed Jaitapur nuclear power project in Maharashtra. The French energy company termed this as a major milestone which will enable discussions aimed at converging towards a binding framework agreement in the coming months. 

The ambitious 9,900-mw power plant, with six reactors of 1,650 mw each, will come up in Jaitapur in Ratnagiri, the coastal district of Maharashtra. French envoy Emmanuel Lenain said that this would be the world’s largest nuclear power project. 

“The world’s most powerful plant would provide electricity to 7 crore households, avoid 8 crore tonnes of carbon dioxide per year and create thousands of local jobs. Together, France and India will secure access to safe, reliable, competitive and sustainable energy,” Mr Lenain tweeted. 

France is one of three nations with whom India shares a robust cooperation in the areas of space, defence and nuclear energy. The US and Russia are the other two countries. EDF submitted the binding offer on Thursday that includes the detailed technical configuration of the reactors and comprehensive commercial terms and conditions for the supply of engineering studies and equipment for the six EPR reactors, according to the French company’s statement.