New Delhi, Dec 18: An India-US contact group on civil nuclear cooperation that met here Dec 16-17 held detailed talks on a range of issues towards implementation of the civil nuclear accord, including on liability, technical issues and licensing to facilitate setting up of US-designed nuclear power plants in India.
The meeting of the contact group comes ahead of the visit to India next month of US President Barack Obama to attend the Republic Day parade.
The India-US nuclear deal of 2008 has been stuck due to India’s liability laws.
“The contact group was established pursuant to the decision of the Indian prime minister and the US president as articulated in the joint statement of Sep 30, 2014 during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the US, with a view to advance the implementation of the India-US civil nuclear cooperation,” said a statement.
“As mandated by the two leaders, the contact group, which comprised relevant experts from both sides, held detailed discussions on a range of implementation issues, including administrative issues, liability, technical issues and licensing to facilitate the establishment of US-designed nuclear power plants in India.
“The discussions were positive and forward-looking and included representatives of nuclear industries from both sides – the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) from the Indian side and Westinghouse and GE-Hitachi from the US side,” it said. (IANS)