| |
In a significant
move that may trigger
nuclear commerce
on a massive scale
between India and
the United States,
American companies
showcased their
advanced technological
might in this field
during the mission's
visits to the various
Indian nuclear centers
from 11th to 16th
January, 2009.
With more than 60
top executives representing
more than 30 world-leading
commercial nuclear
companies, the Mission
was the first commercial
nuclear trade team
to visit India since
the Nuclear Suppliers
Group (NSG) approved
India for global
commercial nuclear
trade. It was also
the largest ever
mission mounted
by USIBC. It comprised
decision-makers
from General Electric,
Westinghouse, Bechtel
Nuclear, the Shaw
Group, Babcock &
Wilcox, Black &
Veatch, Fluor, CH2M
Hill, Curtiss-Wright,
Holtec International,
Uranium One, Thorium
Power, Cameco, Converdyn
and USEC, among
others.
The USIBC-NEI Mission
met with key Government
of India officials
and the top executives
of the Nuclear Power
Corporation, the
National Thermal
Power Corporation,
and other leading
public-sector undertakings.
They also met with
their counterparts
among India's rising
global companies
through the Task
Force on Commercial
Nuclear Cooperation,
a group set up with
the initiative of
the USIBC which
has met since 2006
to identify and
clear obstacles
to US-Indian commercial
nuclear trade.
The 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 30,000
MW by 2020 and 60,000
MW by 2030. To enable
Indian and US 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 US side,
the group has previously
discussed US export
licensing procedures
and the potential
for US companies
to enter into commercial
relationships with
Indian manufacturing,
contracting and
service firms.
“We have considerable
work yet to do,
but we are happy
to be at the stage
of commercial engagement,”
said Jones.
The US commercial
nuclear industry
leads the world
in size, performance,
innovation, and
engineering worldwide.
The US is the largest
generator of nuclear
electric power in
the world with 27
percent of the world's
total installed
capacity and nearly
double the number
of reactors as France.
The US also produces
at roughly 1/2 to
1/3 of the cost
in other major countries.
In recent decades,
US reactor companies
and civil nuclear
engineering companies
have remained at
the forefront of
innovation and engineering
worldwide.
The US nuclear trade
mission was to have
visited India in
December, 2008 but
its itinerary was
rescheduled due
to the terrorist
attacks in Mumbai,
the commercial capital
of India, on 26
November. This is
the first nuclear
delegation to visit
India after the
signing of its historic
nuclear deal with
the US on October
11, 2008 in Washington.
The intent of this
visit is to establish
an advantage in
the projected $150
billion business
potential with India.
The message is clear;
it's nuclear commerce.
The US, whose economy
is passing through
an unprecedented
downturn, is keen
to take advantage
of energy-starved
India's potential
to help its own
nuclear energy industry.
It's a win-win situation
for both India and
the US. But the
bigger winner is
the nuclear commerce
and trade across
the globe, with
benefits percolating
down to each and
every member of
the 45-member Nuclear
Suppliers' Group
(NSG).
The US is keen to
be among the first
major players to
take advantage of
the deal it has
signed with India.
France, the bulk
of whose energy
requirements are
met by nuclear power
and Russia have
also signed a civilian
N-pact with India.
The main purpose
of the Mission,
comprising major
nuclear reactor
technology manufacturers,
nuclear energy engineering
and consulting firms,
suppliers of nuclear
fuel, conversion
technologies and
radiation analysis
experts, is to spur
commercial activity
in both India and
the US.
It may be noted
that the US nuclear
energy industry
has been rather
inactive for more
than three decades,
with not a single
plant having come
up during this period.
Now that the US
initiative has been
launched, there
will be a deluge,
with most other
countries falling
in line. After all,
nuclear energy is
the best deterrent
to the effects of
global warming,
with its effectiveness
to reduce carbon
emissions across
the globe.
US Consul General
Paul Folmsbee described
the historic Indo-US
civilian nuclear
energy agreement
as one of the great
legacies of the
Bush Administration.
Speaking at a function
marking the successful
conclusion of the
Mission, he told
the audience, “Thank
you for joining
us today on the
"rubber meets
the road" part
of the historic
civil nuclear agreement
between India and
the United States.
India's inclusion
under the global
nuclear umbrella
is a historic step,
one that resulted
from a lot of hard
work and honest
dialogue between
not just Indians
and Americans, but
concerned and responsible
partners around
the world. For the
United States, this
historic agreement
will be one of the
great legacies of
the Bush Administration.
“We know that
curbing climate
change, perfecting
clean energy technologies,
and providing for
the next generation's
energy needs in
a responsible, safe,
environmentally
friendly way is
a top priority.
We know this is
a priority for India's
government, industry,
and people as well.
So it will be a
key part of the
United States-India
partnership.
“That is why
we are delighted
that our civil nuclear
industry leaders
are here in India
this week, and that
they will be sharing
information about
the products, technologies,
and services that
have served our
country well. Obviously,
each plant built
in India will have
a significant India
component, from
parts and technology
to engineering and
labor. The enthusiasm
of Indian companies
for nuclear commerce
partnerships is
evidence of this
huge potential.
So we think that
our two countries
make excellent partners
in the nuclear energy
field .
Folmsbee
listed the strong
features of the
US the nuclear power
industry. These
include:
• The US has
a world class nuclear
industry 27 percent
power is generated
through clean nuclear
technology.
• When our
companies compete
for these contracts,
they will be successful
because they offer
the best technology
and reliability.
• The US welcomes
competition, because
we feel our products
stand on their merits.
• The US Civil
Nuclear Energy Industry
is the world leader
in engineering and
has been active
in upgrading plants
and expanding capacity
in existing plants
in the United States,
as well as building
new plants and capacities
in East Asia and
Europe.
• US nuclear
reactors have the
world's highest
average efficiency
rate at 91%
• The United
States today obtains
19.4 percent of
its total generated
electricity from
clean nuclear power.
The United States
ranks number one
worldwide in terms
of:
• Total number
of operating nuclear
reactor units
• (24 percent
of world total -
104 in US out of
439 worldwide);
• total nuclear
power capacity in
Megawatts
• (27 percent
of world total -
100,582 MW in US
out of 372,100 MW
worldwide);
• Total amount
of electricity generated
by nuclear power
annually (31 percent
of world total;
806.5 Billion of
kilowatt-hours Bkwh
out of 2,608 Bkwh
worldwide).
“All of this
spells good news
for both our countries.
I congratulate all
those who have worked
so hard to bring
us to this point,
and who will take
us forward from
here in the development
of India's civil
nuclear industry,”
Folmsbee said.
Westinghouse
to Market AP1000
Plant
Nuclear equipment
maker Westinghouse
Electric Company
has announced that
it expects that
its participation
in the nuclear trade
mission to India
will be the beginning
of a long and mutually
rewarding relationship
with a wide range
of Indian power
companies, suppliers
and academic institutions.
Addressing a press
conference in Mumbai
Ms Meena Mutyala,
Vice President and
business leader,
India, for Westinghouse,
said the company
views the market
in India in the
most favorable light.
"With 17 operating
plants and six under
construction, India's
nuclear infrastructure
is vibrant,"
she said. "The
demand for new nuclear
generation is high
and we are pleased
to be able to participate
in providing electricity
to this fast-growing
economy, and we
will do so in a
manner that further
strengthens India's
already-solid nuclear
power infrastructure.”
WEC's Director (Global
Business Development)
Robert Pearce said
, "We will
invest tens of millions
of dollars as a
minimum to tap India's
nuclear power sector,"
Westinghouse Electric
Company, a group
company of Toshiba
Corporation, is
the world's pioneering
nuclear power company
and is a leading
supplier of nuclear
plant products and
technologies to
utilities throughout
the world. Westinghouse
supplied the world's
first PWR in 1957
in Shipping port,
Pa. Today, Westinghouse
technology is the
basis for well over
40 percent of the
world's operating
nuclear plants,
including 60 percent
of those in the
United States.
Pearce said that
WEC might look at
forging joint venture
with local players,
sourcing from them
and even outright
acquisitions in
areas like engineering,
construction and
equipment making.
"We are in
talks with the local
players, but nothing
has been finalized
yet," he said
adding that the
company would focus
on "as much
as localisation
as possible"
for its business
here in line with
other global markets
including China.
Ms. Mutyala said
Westinghouse will
enter the market
in India with its
API000™ nuclear
power plant. "Our
intent is to use
in-country resources
in the deployment
of API 1000s in
India, and to qualify
suppliers in India
to assist Westinghouse
in the construction
of API 1000s elsewhere
in the world,"
she said. "Toward
that end, we will
develop long-term
relationships and
partnerships with
industrial companies,
design firms, and
academic institutions.”
The AP1000, design
certified by the
NRC in early 2006,
is fast becoming
the technology of
choice in key markets
throughout the world.
In December 2006,
China's State Nuclear
Power Technology
Corporation selected
Westinghouse to
provide two API
1000s each at both
the Sanmen and Haiyang
sites. Contracts
for those plants
were signed in July
2007. In the United
States, the API
000 is the announced
technology of choice
for no less than
14 new plants, including
six for which Engineering,
Procurement and
Construction contracts
have been signed.
"Essentially,
the AP1000 is the
identified technology
for one-half of
the plants announced
in the United States,"
she said. "We
attribute this worldwide
success to the numerous
safety and operational
benefits of the
AP1000 and to our
business model,
which mandates that
we source as much
as possible from
the countries and
regions in which
we are building
new plants.”
Westinghouse
believes the AP1000
is ideally suited
for the worldwide
nuclear power marketplace,
as it is:
• A passively
safe design that
employs natural
forces - natural
circulation, gravity,
convection and compressed
gas - to maintain
safety in the highly
unlikely event of
an accident.
• Based on
standard Westinghouse
pressurized water
reactor (PWR) technology
that has achieved
more than 2,500
reactor years of
highly successful
operation.
• An 1100
MW design that is
ideal for providing
base load generating
capacity.
• Modular
in design, promoting
ready standardization
and high construction
quality.
• Economical
to construct and
maintain (less concrete
and steel and fewer
components and systems
mean there is less
to install, inspect
and maintain).
• Designed
to promote ease
of operation (features
most advanced instrumentation
and control (I&C)
in the industry).
WEC offers a wide
range of nuclear
plant products and
services to utilities
throughout the world,
including fuel,
service and maintenance,
instrumentation
and control and
advanced nuclear
plant designs. Its
technology is the
basis for well over
40 percent of the
world's operating
nuclear power plants,
including 60 per
cent of those in
the United States.
WEC has already
inked a Memorandum
of Understanding
(MoU) with the domestic
engineering and
construction major
Larsen & Toubro
(L&T) to build
1,000 MW pressurized
nuclear power plants
in India.
B&W Poised to
Play a Major Role
The Babcock &
Wilcox Company (B&W),
another leading
member of the US
trade mission. B&W,
a major operating
subsidiary of McDermott
International, is
a leader in advanced
energy technology
innovation and service,
primarily in nuclear
and fossil power.
Providing quality
products and technical
services to commercial
and government customers,
B&W is focused
on issues such as
energy efficiency,
clean air, global
market competitiveness,
and safe and secure
resolution for nuclear
waste. B&W has
locations worldwide
and employs more
than 20,000 people.
B&W has strong
ties to India's
power sector that
span more than 20
years. Through its
relationship with
Thermax Limited,
B&W has worked
with Indian industry
to build power plants
that operate across
the country. Earlier
this year, Thermax
and B&W announced
a new technology
transfer license
agreement that gives
Thermax the right
to engineer, manufacture
and sell B&W
subcritical pressure
radiant utility
boilers in India.
"B&W is
backed by more than
140 years of experience,
and we have a distinguished
history in nuclear
power that dates
back to its inception,"
said Brandon Bethards,
B&W's Chief
Executive Officer.
"We have world-class
nuclear component
manufacturing facilities
and a strong commitment
to safety, quality
and performance.
We recognize these
are key tenets of
India's nuclear
power programs,
and we look forward
to working with
India as they begin
to add more nuclear
generation."
"The historic
US-lndia nuclear
deal opens up tremendous
opportunities for
both Indian and
US business,"
said Craig Hansen,
B&W's Vice President
of Washington Operations
and a member of
the delegation that
travelled to India.
“With demand
for carbon-free
electricity rapidly
increasing, nuclear
power is clearly
going to play a
large role. India
has the skilled
workforce, a robust
existing nuclear
industry, and the
commitment necessary
to manage complex
technical operations.
B&W would like
to work with the
Indian industry
to build capacity
to supply their
own nuclear growth
while developing
an export capability
to serve rapidly
expanding markets.”
|
