US firms keen on nuke trade with Indian cos: Meera Shankar

US firms keen on nuke trade with Indian cos: Meera Shankar
From Lalit K Jha
Washington, Aug 1 (PTI) Despite reservations in the US
on the issue of nuclear liability, some American companies are
keen to move ahead on atomic cooperation with India and have
been in touch with Indian atomic energy authorities, outgoing
Indian ambassador Meera Shankar has said.
In her last media interview before leaving the post
after more than two and half years of serving as India's top
envoy in the US, Shankar conceded that issues have emerged
from both sides as far as nuclear trade is concerned, most
notable being those on the issue of nuclear liability.
But, she exuded confidence that the two countries
would be able to find a way forward on nuclear cooperation.
"US companies have expressed some concerns at the
nuclear liability legislation that was adopted in India. And
we have explained to them this law does not actually introduce
unlimited liability," Shankar told the PTI.
She pointed out that India has also signed the
convention on supplementary compensation, which is an
international convention and has publicly committed to ratify
it this year.
"The Department of Atomic Energy is currently engaged
in drafting nuclear regulations under the liability law," she
said.
"But some of the US companies are keen to explore
the possibilities of moving ahead and they have been in touch
with our Department of Atomic Energy," Shankar said.
Shankar, who retired on July 30, said these are
"complex projects" but the two sides are persistent and hope
to see their hard work yielding results.
"We feel this provides us sufficient framework to move
ahead. There has also been some lingering bureaucratic
procedures which we need to work through on the US side, for
instance the 810 assurances, which they did and now there is
still little bit left," Shankar said.
The 810 assurances refer to a mechanism whereby the
Indian government needs to give assurances of non-diversion or
non-proliferation of dual-use technology by Indian private
sector companies, for American firms to get an 810 license
allowing them to export dual use technology.
India has already identified two nuclear sites for
building nuclear power plants in cooperation with US companies
-- one in Gujarat, another in Andhra Pradesh.
"So we are in the process to facilitate specific
concrete projects with the US. But as I said these are
discussions and negotiations that are complex, because they
involve, technology, safety, security and we hope that the
companies will proceed with negotiations in this field,"
Shankar said.
Responding to questions on Pakistan, Shankar said
both countries have an interest in seeing a stable moderate
and peaceful Pakistan and in eliminating the terrorist havens
in the region.
"So in that sense you could say that there is a broad
similarity of objective. The US itself has conducted
operations against terrorist safe havens in Pakistan including
drone attacks," she said.
"Of course from our point of view, we have continued
our dialogue with Pakistan with a view to seeking a future
which is more secure and building a relationship which is on a
more even keel between the two countries," she said.
"This is the commitment which our Prime Minister has
and which we have been working towards," Shankar said.