Delhi: The agreement for collaboration on Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) is in line with the common goal of India and France to enhance energy security and counter climate change. The recently announced partnership intends to develop nuclear energy that is safer, more efficient, and friendly to nature.
This was announced in a high-level bilateral meeting on March 27, 2025, in Paris, where the Minister of Power of India discussed in a meeting with French energy heads the positioning of SMRs into India’s energy mix. The technology, in its rudimentary stages of development, would prove to be a sustainable and economic solution towards the more conventional large-scale nuclear reactors.
Cooperation will start with the joint R&D projects followed by pilot applications of SMRs in selected locations in India. As the energy demand in India continues to grow, it is looking at ways to diversify its energy mix and at the same time cut back on the use of fossil fuels. France, with its experience in nuclear power, would bring this nuclear expertise and technology to the Indian table.
This partnership becomes even more important as growth in climate pressures increases for both countries. SMRs have a number of advantages: they require less capital to install, can be deployed flexibly, and have a lighter environmental footprint than conventional reactors.
This project adds a testament to the need for power cooperation among countries on the path of sustainable energy. The two countries are using advanced nuclear technology to address their energy challenges and reaffirm their shared commitment to a greener future.
