Washington, June 8: The civilian nuclear agreement signed between India and the US over a decade in the past has lastly borne fruit with the 2 sides deciding to begin preparatory work on six nuclear energy crops in India following bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama.

The US also recognized India as a serious defence accomplice.

“Culminating a decade of partnership on civil nuclear points, the leaders welcomed the beginning of preparatory work on website in India for six AP 1000 reactors to be constructed by Westinghouse and famous the intention of India and the US Export-Import Bank to work collectively towards a aggressive financing bundle for the venture,” a joint assertion issued following Tuesday’s talks between the 2 leaders stated.

“As soon as accomplished, the challenge can be among the many largest of its form, fulfilling the promise of the US-India civil nuclear settlement and demonstrating a shared dedication to fulfill India’s rising power wants whereas lowering reliance on fossil fuels.”

The US-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation, also called the 123 Settlement, was signed by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after which US President George W. Bush on July 18, 2005.

The AP 1000 is a nuclear energy plant designed and bought by Westinghouse, a subsidiary of Japan’s Toshiba.

“As soon as accomplished, the undertaking can be among the many largest of its type, fulfilling the promise of the US-India civil nuclear agreement and demonstrating a shared dedication to satisfy India’s rising power wants whereas decreasing reliance on fossil fuels,” the joint assertion stated.

“Either side welcomed the announcement by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India, and Westinghouse that engineering and site design work will start instantly and the 2 sides will work towards finalising the contractual preparations by June 2017.”

The assertion stated the US and India shared widespread local weather and clear power pursuits and had been shut companions within the battle in opposition to local weather change.

“Management from each international locations helped galvanise world motion to fight local weather change and culminated within the historic Paris Agreement reached final December,” it acknowledged.

India was additionally elevated to the standing of a serious defence accomplice of the US which, aside from sending a powerful message to the world, may also act as a catalyst for defence manufacturing beneath the Make in India initiative.

“Noting that the US-India defence relationship may be an anchor of stability, and given the more and more strengthened cooperation in protection, the US hereby recognises India as a Major Defence Partner,” the joint assertion mentioned.

In accordance with the assertion, each Modi and Obama expressed their want to discover agreements which might facilitate additional enlargement of bilateral defence cooperation in sensible methods.

“On this regard, they welcomed the finalisation of the textual content of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA),” it mentioned.

The US would proceed to work in the direction of facilitating know-how sharing with India to the identical as degree because it does with its closest allies and companions.

“The leaders additionally dedicated to reinforce cooperation in help of the Authorities of India’s Make in India Initiative and increase the co-production and co-development of applied sciences below the Defence Technology  and Trade Initiative (DTTI),” the assertion stated.

Photo Courtesy: India