Crucial Meeting Set to End India's Nuclear Isolation
WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Recognizing that it may take more than one round of meetings to end 34 years of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group high technology denial regime imposed on India, the U.S.-India Business Council today mobilized its resolve to push for NSG approval and a landmark ratification of legislation this year in the 110th U.S. Congress -- both necessary steps for India to commence international civil nuclear trade.
"Today's meeting at the NSG, just three weeks following the unanimous approval by the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors to engage with India in civil nuclear trade, is a crucial step that will bring India into the international mainstream -- which is good for nuclear nonproliferation, good for global energy security, and good for the environment," said Ron Somers, President of the U.S.-India Business Council, the trade association based in Washington that represents the largest U.S. companies investing in India, and which has been at the point of the spear for U.S. businesses advocating for civil nuclear cooperation with India.
The NSG's admission of India to the global nonproliferation regime will see IAEA safeguards applied to 14 of India's 22 nuclear facilities, Indian support for the IAEA Additional Protocol, Indian harmonization with the Missile Technology Control Regime, and other nonproliferation gains.
NSG approval of nuclear trade with India will provide power to sustain India's remarkable 9% growth -- a process which has lifted hundreds of millions from poverty. Presently, only 55% of Indian households have access to electricity. Without nuclear energy, India will be forced to rely on costly and carbon-emitting fossil fuels for baseload power. Currently, coal and gas account for 64% of India's total generating capacity. With international cooperation, India can expand its nuclear capacity from just 4,000 MW to between 30,000 and 60,000 MW in 2030.
"We understand that the NSG will require more than one meeting to end India's nuclear isolation," said Somers. "But seizing this moment is essential," he added.
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SOURCE U.S.-India Business Council
For further information: Ron Somers of the U.S.-India Business Council, +1-202-463-5626, rsomers@uschamber.com
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