New Delhi: India and the US have fast-tracked talks to set up six nuclear reactors as part of the Kovvada nuclear project in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district by American power giant Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC).
The two countries are also in talks for jointly developing next-generation, small-modular reactor technologies for the domestic market and for export.
This came up for discussion between Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden during the Prime Minister’s ongoing state visit to the country.
A joint statement after the talks said both leaders underscored the important role nuclear energy played in global decarbonisation efforts and affirmed it was a necessary resource to meet the two nations’ climate, energy transition, and energy security needs.
The leaders noted that negotiations were ongoing between the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) for the construction of the six nuclear reactors in India.
“They welcomed intensified consultations between the U.S. DOE and India’s DAE for facilitating opportunities for WEC to develop a techno-commercial offer for the Kovvada nuclear project,” it said.
India and the US are also in discussion to develop next-generation, small-modular reactor technologies in a collaborative mode for the domestic market as well as for export.
“The United States reaffirms its support for India’s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group and commits to continue engagement with like minded partners to advance this goal,” the statement said.
Currently, India has 22 operating reactors, with an installed capacity of 6780 MWe. Among those, 18 reactors are Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) and four are Light Water Reactors (LWRs).
And there are nine nuclear-power reactors at various stages of construction, targeted for completion by 2024-25.
In addition, the government gave administrative approval and financial sanction in June 2017 to 12 more reactors.
Therefore, there are 21 upcoming nuclear-power reactors, with an installed capacity of 15,700 MW, envisaged for progressive completion by 2031.
Moreover, discussions are underway to finalise proposals to set up large-size Light Water Reactors in collaboration with France at the Jaitapur site in Maharashtra and with USA at the Kovvada site in Andhra Pradesh.
The cost of reactors to be set up at these sites will emerge after proposals are formalised, and also after techno-commercial discussions.
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