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India, World

EDF signs preliminary deal to build six nuclear reactors in India

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Newsroom24x7 Desk

Jaitapur Nuclear plantParis : Électricité de France, the French electric utility company, largely owned by the French state, headquartered in Paris, has signed a preliminary agreement with Nuclear Power Corp of India Ltd (NPCIL) to build six nuclear reactors at Jaitapur, in the west of India. A transfer of project mid-way, this nuclear reactor project was originally initiated in a contract with French state-controlled Areva group, which had faltered in its completion and due to the long delay, decided to transfer the reactor arm wing on a sellout in this calendar year. EDF is taking over the long-delayed project, which could become the world’s biggest nuclear contract, from fellow French state-controlled group Areva, which will sell its reactor arm to EDF in coming months.

The Jaitapur project had been able to get initial environment clearance almost five years ago, and, as revealed by EDF, the project has gotten initial environmental clearance in 2010. Moreover, a contract for pre-engineering studies is already in place, which was executed between the two parties, namely — Areva and NPCIL, and the contract was inked last April.

EDF plans to take the project forward from hereon, and said that in the next few months it would continue work started by Areva and NPCIL to secure certification for the European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) reactor in India and to finalize the economic and financial conditions. Jaitapur would attract global recognition when this project sees the light of the day and becomes fully functional, as, the six 1650 megawatt EPR reactors with a combined capacity of nearly 10,000 MW would make Jaitapur one of the world’s biggest nuclear sites and the contract, if finalised, one of the largest in the history of the nuclear industry.

French President Francois Hollande, making a state visit to India, said on Monday that an agreement to build the six nuclear reactors should be concluded within a year. Leaders of both nations joined voices in support of speeding up the project. Hollande and Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a joint statement they had agreed to hasten the nuclear talks and aim for construction to begin in early 2017.

India

India bets on International Solar alliance in Paris

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Newsroom24x7 Desk

solar panelsParis : Monday today will mark as a day of new page in the history of India-France collaborative efforts in the field of solar energy, as French President Francois Hollande and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch an international solar alliance aimed at eventually bringing clean and affordable solar energy within the reach of all. The launch is scheduled to coincide and interweave with a summit of world leaders at the start of two weeks of talks. The event to commence in the outskirts of Paris aims to seek a new global deal on curbing climate change, with a special eye of focus on natural avenues and attempt to shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy with support from nature’s plentifulness.

India is keen to make the most of this summit in terms of actively participating along with co-countries and strengthening energy buffers by promoting intensive solar and other renewable sources within the country. An Indian government statement on Sunday said there were well over 100 solar-rich countries in the tropics that could be members of the International Solar Alliance to develop clean and affordable solar energy, and Indian certainly is keen to feature among the top list of the participants. It said — Solar energy is a practical and efficient way to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions.

The erstwhile 2009 Copenhagen Summit did not convert into effective results and had cast an unsuccessful shadow of failure in the minds of participating countries. Hence, viewing this Paris Summit as a bundle of hope and expecting to attempt reaching a global climate deal, United Nations is placing as much weight on the efforts of individual governments as on an overarching UN agreement.

The participating countries too have shown keenness and a majority of them, more than 180 nations, to be precise, have submitted their home-made national action plans, keeping in mind their own country-requirements, as well as their contribution towards a global cause. The efforts are genuine, the plans are in place, but the target of achievement — a goal of limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times — seems a far cry, not impossible though, but a step by step trickle down result which can be anticipated, does put the scientific minds at unrest, for want of stronger commitments and faster reprise. Scientists opine that the cap (2 degrees Celsius) is the bare minimum goal, achieving which is critically essential to prevent the most devastating consequences of global warming.

India’s national plan focuses on solar energy, and, based on the climate of the country as a whole, India aims to achieve solar energy expansion, and believes the renewable energy platform in India would grow significantly in the times to come. Not leaving it to words, the target has been laid down in digits — India’s aim to reach a capacity of 100 gigawatts by 2022, and this target is under constant escalation over regular time period, to be scaled up further in future.

Firms such as Tata Power have already diversified long back into renewable energy resources and invested heavily in solar as a reliable source of power, and are optimistic of bringing lights into remote areas, across the board of income group, with a special objective to deliver power to some of India’s poorest people.

World

Russia must implement Minsk agreement and contain Ukraine violence, says US

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Newsroom24x7 Desk

minskWashington D.C : German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko spoke to media after their meeting in Chancellery in Berlin, Germany. America has spoken in its tone of insistence, when Washington DC spokesperson John Kirby expressed what America expects from this Minsk agreement.

Welcoming the meet of Merkel, Hollande and Poroshenko in Berlin, Kirby sounded optimistic about the three leaders and their ongoing, shared commitment to full implementation of Minsk agreements. But he expressed concerns about violence in eastern Ukraine. US analysis continues to show, said Kirby, that it is the combined Russian-separatist forces and not Ukrainian forces which are initiating aggressive activities. As Ukraine’s military posture stays defensive, America firmly rejects Russia’s efforts to point to Ukraine as the aggressor, added he.

Kirby went on to state that there is no indication if Ukraine intends to conduct or is undertaking preparations for offensive operations in its own country or in eastern Ukraine. Kirby however commended the ongoing efforts made by Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in facilitating Minsk implementation. He strongly rejected the separatist attacks and said that US disliked the pressure on OSCE monitors and calls upon Russia and the separatists to end violence and begin full implementation of Minsk agreements, including ensuring safety and full access for OSCE monitors.

Asked by a reporter on Foreign Minister Lavrov’s statement connected to restoring bilateral communication channels that were frozen by United States, and whether US intends to reopen these channels, Kirby suggested that there are areas where US cooperates with Russia. The Iran deal being one of them, Syria and a way forward for a political transition being another, yet there are areas where US disagrees.

Not having any specific statement on it, Kirby referred to John Kerry’s commitment and stated that Secretary Kerry has been communicating directly with Foreign Minister Lavrov on a range of issues and hoped that the communication would continue. On an after thought, Kirby reiterated that there are some areas where both parties are going to see progress and work closely together on, and there would be other areas where both will continue to disagree.