India, US Discuss Building US-Designed Nuclear Power Plants in India

Indian and US experts have discussed a number of issues regarding nuclear cooperation between the two countries, including the establishment of US-developed nuclear power plants in India, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said in a press statement Wednesday.

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 statement read.

The talks were held in the framework of the first meeting of the Indian-US Contact Group on Civil Nuclear Cooperation in New Delhi.

The group was established in late September during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States and is aimed at boosting nuclear cooperation between the countries and reaching the "shared goal of delivering electricity from US-built nuclear power plants in India".

In 2005, then US President George W. Bush and former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced their intention to reach a nuclear agreement. Following three years of negotiations, a landmark deal was signed between the countries, stipulating full civil nuclear energy cooperation.