India may soon export nuclear reactors: US report

A United States Congressional report said that India could soon join a select group of countries in exporting nuclear reactors.

“Only Canada, China, France, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and the United States export nuclear reactors. India may join this group in the near term,” the Congressional Research Service said in its latest report ‘Nuclear Energy

According to the CRS report, India is among a limited number of countries conduct commercial enrichment and reprocessing of fissile materials and can supply this technology. At present, supplier states are not planning any transfers of enrichment or reprocessing technology.

The report added that commercial reprocessing is now being done only in France, the United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, and India. On the other hand, China only has a pilot plant but is considering a large-scale facility. South Korea is pursuing a research and development program on pyro-processing. According to World Nuclear Association, India is offering its indigenous 220 and 540 megawatt heavy water reactor designs for export, although no specific customers have been identified.