UK business delegation meets AEC Chairman

[sajiv]

A high-level business delegation from the UK today met Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar at the Anushakti Bhavan in south Mumbai, sources from Department of Atomic Energy said.
Although India has carried out some business with the British nuclear industry in the past, this is the first instance that such a large delegation from Britain has come to the department and to India, the sources said.

After the Nuclear suppliers Group's (NSG) green signal last September, the visit assumes significance to explore avenues for cooperation in civil nuclear sector.

Nuclear Power Corporation of India's Chairman (NPCIL) and Managing Director K Jain was also present during the delegation's meeting with Kakodkar, they said.

Though the details of the discussion have not been made public, the UK-India business group will meet the press tomorrow, the sources added.

The 20-member delegation will also meet the technical experts of NPCIL tomorrow, they said.

For Indian nuclear industry, interaction with British counterparts is not new as for the last few decades.

India has been trading with them several equipment like main boiler feed pumps (heavy pump equipment), special purpose valves and shielding valves, NPCIL sources said.

UK nuclear industry is a strong international contributor in nuclear safety related issues. India has been associated with them through World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), International Atomic Energy Agency and World Nuclear Association, they said.