SOURCE: AFI
In a significant stride towards bolstering India-US civil nuclear cooperation, the United States has announced plans to remove several Indian companies from its restricted ‘entities list.’ This move aims to dismantle decades-old barriers that have curtailed nuclear trade between the two nations.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, during his address at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi on Monday, confirmed that the US is in the process of finalizing steps to eliminate these long-standing regulations. “Today, I can announce that the United States is now finalizing the necessary steps to remove long-standing regulations that have prevented civil nuclear cooperation between India’s leading nuclear entities and US companies,” Sullivan stated.
This development is pivotal as it opens pathways for enhanced collaboration in the nuclear sector, allowing Indian entities previously barred from engaging with US firms to now participate in civil nuclear projects. The removal from the ‘entities list’ will facilitate not only commercial engagements but also collaborations in technological and scientific research, enhancing both countries’ capabilities in nuclear energy.
Sullivan further elaborated on the potential of this move, saying, “The paperwork will be done soon but this will be an opportunity to turn the page on some of the frictions of the past and create opportunities for entities that have been on restricted lists in the United States to come off those lists and enter into deep collaboration with the United States, with our private sector, scientists, and technologists to move civil nuclear cooperation forward together.”
This announcement comes at a time when India is keen on expanding its nuclear energy capacity to meet its growing energy demands while also aiming for a significant share of non-fossil fuel energy by 2030. The decision by the US to lift these restrictions could lead to a surge in investment and technology transfer in the nuclear sector, potentially worth billions, involving both Indian and American companies.
The cooperation is expected to extend beyond mere trade to include advancements in safety protocols, reactor technology, and the integration of small modular reactors (SMRs), which have been highlighted as a future area of interest by both nations. This step not only signifies a deepening of strategic partnership but also aligns with global efforts towards sustainable energy sources.