‘Paperwork will be done soon’: US to end curbs on Indian nuclear entities

New Delhi: US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan announced on Monday that Washington is working to remove restrictions on Indian nuclear entities, Reuters reported.

The process is part of the US plans to create ‘deeper energy ties’ with India alongside strengthening its 20-year-old nuclear deal.

Notwithstanding discussions between Washington and New Delhi since mid-2000 on supplying nuclear reactors to India, even after President George W. Bush signing a deal in 2007 to sell civilian nuclear technology to India, things have not been worked out.

The need to bring Indian liability rules in line with global norms has come in the way, according to the report.

According to the global norms, the cost of any accident has to be directed to the operator rather than to maker of the nuclear power plant.

Sullivan, who is on a two-day visit to India, said: ‘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 U.S. companies.’

It is reported that US and Indian officials have not given details about the changes to be made to the regulations.

Announcing that the formal paperwork will soon be over, Sullivan said that the move will ‘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.’

More than 200 Indian entities have come under the US restrictions after India tested nuclear weapons in 1998.

Many of them have been taken off the list as ties between both countries evolved over the years, Reuters reported citing an Indian official.

At least four entities of India’s Department of Atomic Energy alongside some Indian nuclear reactors and power plants are currently in the U.S. Department of Commerce's list.