[NukeNet] US Nuclear Tech Suppliers Swarm India

[Bill Smirnow]

 >The bill must be finalised in December before
the end of
>this Congressional session, otherwise the process
will have to start anew
>next year.

  This needs to be stopped/not passed in December.
Please call your Senators & Reps telling them this
is a disaster in the making and must be snuffed.
The Congressional switchboard can be reached at:
202-224-3121 & 1-877-762-8762. People on relevant
committee[s] can be found at:
http://www.senate.gov

  http://www.house.gov  Please forward this as
widely as possible.

   -Bill Smirnow


  Alice Slater
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, New York
446 E. 86 St.
New York, NY 10028
212-744-2005
646-238-9000(cell)
aslater at rcn.com
www.wagingpeace.org

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From: NucNews at yahoogroups.com
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Sent: Friday, December 15, 2006 9:32 PM
To: nucnews at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [NucNews] US nuclear tech suppliers swarm
India

US nuclear tech suppliers swarm India

Financial Times / MSNBC
By Amy Yee in New Delhi
Nov 23, 2006

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15861048/

US companies are clamouring to break into India's
nuclear energy market -
forecast to be worth $100bn (£53bn) - as lawmakers
race to finalise the
US-India civilian nuclear agreement cleared last
week by the US Senate.

Two dozen US groups with nuclear energy interests
will join more than 200
other American companies at the US India Business
Summit in Mumbai next
week, which represents the largest ever US trade
mission to India.

The energy and infrastructure heavyweights GE,
Westinghouse, Bechtel, United
Technologies, Thorium Power, US Enrichment
Corporation and Fluor are part of
the delegation.

The US Senate last Thursday approved a historic
deal to legalise nuclear
trade with India, bringing the country a step
closer to being allowed to buy
US nuclear fuel, reactors and related technology.

US companies across a range of sectors, from IT to
manufacturing to
entertainment, have pushed hard for the new
legislation.

"This goes far beyond nuclear reactors," said Ron
Somers, president of the
US India Business Council, an industry advocacy
group based in Washington.
"We are ripping the lid off so the market can grow
at a much faster pace."

India's power generation capacity stands at
132,000MW but it is seeking to
add 100,000MW from conventional energy sources to
sustain economic growth
running at about 8 per cent a year.

Nuclear energy could provide a further 60,000MW.

In addition to satisfying growing consumer demand
as incomes rise, India
also needs energy to bolster its weak
infrastructure.

Overhauling and expanding ports, airports, roads
and railways - crucial to
boosting India's industry and trade - will carry
an estimated price tag of
$500bn over the next decade.

"We've only just begun significant economic
activity with India," said Mr
Somers. Passage of the civilian nuclear agreement
would signal the "end of a
technology denial regime imposed on India for the
past 35 years".

Both chambers of US Congress must now reconcile
their versions of the bill
and bilateral agreements with India must be
hammered out before it can be
signed into law. The bill must be finalised in
December before the end of
this Congressional session, otherwise the process
will have to start anew
next year.

In addition, several more critical approvals, by
the International Atomic
Energy Agency and the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers
Group, are needed before
the agreement can take effect.

Although several hurdles stand in the way of
opening India's civilian
nuclear industry, "there is interest from
countries all over the world to
position themselves", said David Mulford, US
ambassador to India, last week.

Opening India's civilian nuclear industry is
"achievable in a matter of
months...Deals will come through quite quickly,"
he added.

-- 

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