Indian nuclear industry has hailed the re-election of Barack Obama as the US President. Industry players and the Department of Atomic Energy officials were unanimous that the political and policy continuity in the nuclear sector will continue. This is also expected to further boost the ongoing talks between the Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC) and GE-Hitachi and Westinghouse for the supply of reactors for the country's ongoing nuclear capacity addition programme.
GE-Hitachi has already launched pre-liminary talks with NPC for the initial supply of two reactors of 1,500 MW and subsequently additional four for the proposed nuclear project in Andhra Pradesh. On the other hand, Westinghouse has initiated talks with NPC for the initial supply of two reactors of 1,100 MW and the subsequent additional four reactors for the proposed nuclear plant in Gujarat.
However, industry players said that India's civil nuclear liability regime would continue to be a matter of concern as suppliers from India and abroad have raised serious objections against various provisions.
SK Malhotra, spokesperson for Department of Atomic Energy told Business Standard "With Barack Obama's re-election as the US president the political continuity will be there. As far as negotiations between NPC and US companies are concerned they are one to one and DAE is not directly involved. However, Inter Governmental Agreement between the US and India are in place."
MV Kotwal, member of the L&T Board and President, Heavy Engineering said the re-election of President Obama will ensure continuity in the efforts being put in by American and Indian Governments in enabling implementation of the Civil Nuclear Agreement and in sorting out matters related to export of technology from USA. "As far as the issue of Civil Nuclear Liability is concerned, I hope some way forward is worked out soon since it affects participation in projects by industries both within & outside India," he opined.
GR Srinivasan, former vice chairman, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board said with Obama's re-election the civil nuclear policy between the two countries will continue. "As far as India's civil nuclear liability is concerned, there is a need for a political consensus. A balance can be struck where by industry is protected and also the interest of victims are taken care of," noted Srinivasan who is advisor to GMR Energy on nuclear business.
