The Obama administration announced a deal Tuesday for Westinghouse to build six nuclear-powered commercial reactors in India, a project to be financed by the U.S. Export-Import Bank.
As President Obama hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House, the administration said the nuclear deal culminates a decade of negotiations between the two countries.
“Once completed, the project would be among the largest of its kind, fulfilling the promise of the U.S.-India civil nuclear agreement and demonstrating a shared commitment to meet India’s growing energy needs while reducing reliance on fossil fuels,” the White House said.
Contracts for the project are to be completed by June 2017. Westinghouse CEO Danny Roderick told Reuters last month that India’s efforts to develop a $220 million insurance program to cover supplier liability for nuclear plants would pave the way for the agreement.
During an Oval Office meeting, Mr. Obama and Mr. Modi reiterated their commitment to an international climate-change agreement reached in Paris last year that has a goal of reducing carbon emissions in 175 nations, a key legacy issue for Mr. Obama.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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