General Electric, Westinghouse keen to develop 12K MW of nuclear power in India

NEW DELHI: American majors General Electric and Westinghouse are looking to develop 12,000 megawatts of nuclear power in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, US Ambassador to India Nancy Powell said today.

The US is a key partner for energy and power development in India, Powell - who resigned from the post of US Ambassador to India earlier this month - said at the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) annual general meeting here.

"US companies are active players in all sectors of renewable and thermal power generation. Westinghouse and General Electric are prepared to develop 12,000 megawatts of nuclear power in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, potentially doubling India's ability to generate clean, safe, reliable nuclear power and generating billions of dollars of economic activity in both countries," she said.

India's economy can't grow if it doesn't have sufficient power to develop and if 400 million people live without electricity, Powell added.

She said that in 2013, US Department of Energy approved a second project to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to India, which is likely to begin in 2017.

The 5.6 million tons of LNG contracted have a value of over $ 1.5 billion per year and could increase India's gas supply by as much as 40 per cent, she added.

However, she said there is an underlying challenge here, "because until now rapid energy growth has meant rapid growth in climate warming emissions as well.

"But the challenge contains an opportunity. Just as India led the way in revolutionising business processing services, there is no reason that India cannot become a leader in clean energy and export climate saving technologies to the United States and to the world".

The bilateral trade between India and the US stood at about $ 100 billion.