The Indo-US civilian
nuclear energy deal has got off to a flying start. This was indicated
by Steve Hucik, senior Vice President, GE-Hitachi, who led an American
nuclear trade mission on a five-day visit to India in the second week
of January.
Hucik told Asian Nuclear Energy at the end of the mission's five-day
visit of the country in Mumbai: "This trade mission, which is a
result of the Indo US nuclear deal, will give a flying start to the
Indo-US nuclear commerce."
The first-ever commercial nuclear trade mission of its kind to visit
India since the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) gave a green signal for
the country's global commercial nuclear trade held discussions with
the Indian nuclear establishment and private sector players keen on
setting up joint ventures with their US counterparts.
The mission was initiated by the US-India Business Council (USIBC),
the Nuclear Energy Institute and the U.S. Department of Commerce. It
comprised more than 60 senior executives representing around 30 world-leading
commercial nuclear companies. It was also the largest ever mission mounted
by USIBC.
Hucik described the nuclear trade mission's India visit as a satisfying
experience. He said the mission members had met Plannig Commission Deputy
Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee
and other important ministers and politicians in New Delhi.
"There is tremendous potential for business opportunities in the
Nuclear Power sector in India for the US Commercial Nuclear Industry.
There have been very positive signs from the Indian Government and Indian
Industry in partnering together in developing the nuclear reactors in
India," he said.
The Mission delegates also met top executives of the Nuclear Power Corporation,
the National Thermal Power Corporation, and other leading public-sector
undertakings. Also significant were the mission members' meetings with
their counterparts among India's rising global companies via the CII-USIBC
Joint Task Force on Commercial Nuclear Cooperation, a group set up to
identify and clear obstacles to U.S.-Indian commercial nuclear trade.
Hucik said: "India is looking forward to building next generation
nuclear plants which have state-of-the-art technology and modern equipment
and this trade mission will make this possible through collaborations
between corporate giants of India and the US. India will also discover
that smaller, modular plants may be more economical in the long run.
NTPC and NPCIL are cash rich companies with very strong balance sheets
which is an advantage to India."
The CII-USIBC Joint Task Force identified policy issues on both sides
requiring attention in order for India to move toward its ambitious
goals for expanding its nuclear generating capacity to 30,000MW by 2020
and 60,000 MW by 2030. To enable Indian and U.S. private-sector companies
alike to take part in the expansion, issues relating to nuclear liability
and intellectual property protection, among others, need attention in
India. On the U.S. side, the group has previously discussed U.S. export
licensing procedures and the potential for U.S. companies to enter into
commercial relationships with Indian manufacturing, contracting and
service firms.
"The robust
presence here of the U.S. commercial nuclear industry, so soon after
the unfortunate events in Mumbai, speaks to the commitment of our companies
to partner with India in the coming nuclear renaissance," said
Ted Jones, Director for Policy Advocacy at USIBC.