President Bush signs bill implementing US-India nuclear agreement

Washington (Platts)--18Dec2006

President George W. Bush Monday signed into law a bill to open India's
civilian nuclear energy market to technology and fuel from the United States.

In a White House ceremony, Bush said the measure would enable India to
help meet its burgeoning demand for electricity while providing jobs and other
economic opportunities for US companies.

"The United States has an interest in helping India meet this demand with
nuclear energy," Bush said.

The bill, which implements an agreement-in-principal between Bush and
India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in July 2005, will prompt greater
consideration by India of building nuclear power plants rather than coal
facilities, whose emissions contribute to global warming, the president said.

As part of the agreement, India also agreed to open its civilian nuclear
facilities to international inspection. While Bush said India has operated
such facilities safely for years, he added that providing for outside
inspection is "an important achievement for the whole world."

--Bill Loveless, bill_loveless@platts.com

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