US-India Business Council welcomes nuclear sites for cos
The US-India Business Council (USIBC) today welcomed the decision of the Indian government to identify two greenfield site locations for commercial nuclear development, dedicated for the US companies.
"This allotment by India is a welcome transition from conceptualising US-India civil nuclear cooperation to actual implementation," said Ron Somers, President of USIBC, the apex trade body of American companies doing business in India.
US-India civil nuclear cooperation was overwhelmingly approved by the US Congress in October last year, ending a three decades' old technology denial regime imposed on India.
"Companies like General Electric and Westinghouse, supported by other major US suppliers, will now be able to commence site work, perform geotechnical investigations, and complete feasibility studies — all necessary steps that lead to actual implementation and eventual generation of carbon-free nuclear power," Somers added.
Sites of significant acreage, which will provide for future unit expansion as well as forested buffer zones, have been identified by Indian authorities for implementation of US technology in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.
While Andhra Pradesh is home to India's burgeoning space programme, which last year successfully launched its first mission to the moon, as well as home to Microsoft and other iconic American companies that have set up advanced research and development centres; USIBC said Gujarat is India's most industrialised state, is a major energy hub and known for its extraordinary work culture.
"These are both excellent locations where the people of these states appreciate and understand the benefits of reliable electric supply, and where human talent to erect and maintain these state of the art facilities is plentiful," he shared.
India was admitted last year to the 45-Nation Nuclear Suppliers' Group — comprised of all countries engaged in civil nuclear trade.
Allocation by India of nuclear "parks" to Russia and France has already occurred. US firms have been eagerly awaiting this present allocation, so feasibility planning, site development, and actual implementation by US companies may also now begin.
"With this major milestone, we now look forward to India allowing the full-scale participation of the dynamic Indian private sector in India's civil nuclear build-out," Somers said.
As India's private sector joins in this activity, Indian firms will seek, as US firms do, limits on liability in the event of a mishap. US companies have been pressing India to sign-on to the international Convention of Supplementary Compensation, which would limit liability to privately held companies in the event of an accident.
"Today's allotment of nuclear sites for US technology is a welcome first step towards what promises to be a long and fruitful partnership between US and Indian companies," Somers said.