US-based power firm Westinghouse Electric Co. has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. aimed at the future construction of a nuclear power plant in Gujarat state.
The announcement of the early works agreement was made by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Wednesday at the opening session of the annual India-US strategic dialogue she is co-chairing with Indian External Affairs S.M. Krishna.
While differences still remained over India’s nuclear liability law, the MoU represented significant progress toward the realisation of the landmark 2008 India-US civil nuclear agreement, she said.
Westinghouse said it would be negotiating an agreement for preliminary licensing and site development work for plants at the Mithivirdi site in Gujarat calling it an important step toward keeping the project moving forward.
India has reserved two sites for US power companies to set up nuclear power plants under the nuclear deal. But US suppliers have been reluctant to come forward because of concerns over India’s tough nuclear liability law.