Areva may make N-parts in India

Areva NP, the France-based conglomerate with interests in nuclear power, may make India the hub for manufacturing components for its European pressurised water reactor.

This move would help bring down costs and make India one of its "first priorities" once the Indo-US nuclear deal is sealed, the company said today.

"There is huge potential to source components from India to the international market. We are willing to be a major player in India's nuclear programme with the US. As soon as the international framework allows it, the Indian market will be one of our first priorities," Anne Lauvergeon, Areva's executive board chairman, said at a conference here today.

Areva and General Electric are keen on entering India's prospective nuclear market. Lauvergeon added that Areva will only supply the components for setting up nuclear power plants and not undertake operations and maintenance.

"There is need for consistent nuclear fuel supply. The west shall ensure that the kind of regimes the past has seen will not be repeated and India should be provided with the high comfort levels," Kapil Sibal, minister for science, technology and ocean development, said at the same conference.