Westinghouse to sign deal for six nuclear reactors in India during Trump’s visit: report

U.S. energy company Westinghouse is expected to sign a deal for six nuclear reactors with the state-run Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) during President Trump’s trip to the country, Reuters reported. 

The deal will outline timelines and name the lead local constructor for building the reactors at Kovvada in southern India, according to the news service. 

India has reportedly been open to receiving nuclear reactors since its 2008 civil nuclear energy pact with the U.S. Last year, the countries announced they had committed to six reactors.

Representatives from the U.S. Energy and Commerce departments, Westinghouse, the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum and The Nuclear Energy Institute have met in India for negotiations, Reuters noted. 

Rita Baranwal, assistant secretary for the Office of Nuclear Energy in the U.S. Department of Energy, told the news service that the team is “optimistic” the agreement will be signed “shortly.”

“We are encouraging moving forward with Westinghouse and NPCIL to sign a MoU. It certainly is a private industry-to-private industry, a business-to-business decision,” she said, referring to a memorandum of understanding.

The Hill reached out to Westinghouse and NPCIL for comment.

India’s foreign ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said on Thursday that the two companies were in negotiations to continue the project, according to Reuters.

“Following resolution of Westinghouse’s bankruptcy issues, the two sides are in discussion regarding the division of responsibility of the work,” he said.

Trump has prioritized organizing trade with India, the second most-populous country in the world. Officials are attempting to negotiate a limited trade deal before a larger one that Trump says will likely come after the election.