Westinghouse and NPCIL sign MOU to set up AP1000 reactors

MUMBAI: US energy major Westinghouse Electric company (WEC) and Nucelar Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) signed an MoU for starting discussions on techno-commercial aspects to set up six to eight AP1000 type nuclear power reactors in India.

After the civil nuclear cooperation between India and US in last October, this is the first singing of MoU for setting up of AP1000 reactors in the country by WEC.

The signing of this MoU is another milestone in the engagement of NPCIL and WEC for preparing the contract and related details of setting up multiple AP1000 reactors in the country.

The MoU was signed by President and Chief Executive Officer of WEC Aris S Candris and Chairman and Managing Director of NPCIL S K Jain in the presence of Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission Anil Kakodkar and other senior officials of Department of Atomic energy and NPCIL, a release said.

As part of international civil nuclear cooperation, India had earlier signed MoUs with General Electric Hitachi, USA for setting up of four Advanced Boiling Water Reactors in India.

The sites for both these American companies which would accommodate plants of 10,000 MW each, are yet to be announced by the Government of India.

AP1000 is pressurised water reactor, which is the trademark of Westinghouse Electric Co.