Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with US-based Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) to build 1,000-megawatt nuclear plants in India. The agreement is to pursue modular nuclear power reactors for co-operation to effectively address the projected need in India for pressurised water nuclear reactors with modular construction technology. The recent agreement between India & US regarding co-operation in the field of civilian nuclear power has opened up new opportunities for both countries.
Westinghouse technology is in use in over 40% of the operating nuclear power plants in the world. 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 pressurised water reactor in 1957 in Shippingport, US.
Meena Mutyala, vice president, India strategy, Westinghouse, said, ?The agreement will enable L&T as well as WEC to utilise indigenous capabilities for the turnkey construction of nuclear power plants including supply of reactor equipment and systems, valves, electrical and instrumentation products and fabrication of structural, piping and equipment modules for the Westinghouse AP 1,000 plants.?
According to MV Kotwal, whole-time director & senior executive VP (heavy engineering), L&T, ?L&T has been playing a lead role in equipment manufacture, construction and project management for pressurised heavy water reactors in India?s domestic programme, this MoU with Westinghouse represents a major step forward for L&T in pressurised water reactors of modular design.?
Meanwhile, the US-India Business Council (USIBC) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has concluded a 5-day trade mission. The mission was supported by the Nuclear Energy Institute and the US Department of Commerce. With more than 60 senior executives representing more than 30 world-leading commercial nuclear companies, the mission was the first commercial nuclear trade mission 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.
While addressing a press meet, Ted Jones, director for policy advocacy at USIBC said, ?The robust presence here of the US commercial nuclear industry, so soon after the unfortunate events in Mumbai, speaks on the commitment of US companies to partner with India in the coming Nuclear renaissance.?