Concerns on N-Liability addressed, says US

The US today said its concerns with regard to India's Nuclear Liability law have been addressed and negotiations have begun between the companies of the two countries for setting up atomic plants in India.

The US on Wednesday said its concerns with regard to India's Nuclear Liability law have been addressed and negotiations have begun between the companies of the two countries for setting up atomic plants in India.

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Identifying civil nuclear cooperation with India as a high priority area for the US, Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Robert Blake said it offers not only a "huge commercial opportunity" but a chance to help India meets its growing energy needs.

"I think, they have been," he said when asked whether the concerns over India's Civil Nuclear Liability Law had been addressed. Interacting with select journalists from India and some other South Asian nations through tele-conferencing, Blake said the concerns had been addressed by India's assurance that it would ratify the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damages in the coming year and provide a level-playing field for American companies.

"Our companies have begun negotiations to help provide reactors to meet India's energy needs," the US official said. American companies had been apprehensive about certain aspects of the Liability Act, particularly those fixing liability on suppliers, and had been wanting the concerns to be addressed before commercial aspect of the civil nuclear cooperation could be initiated.