Westinghouse to build nuclear power plant in India

Westinghouse will construct AP1000 nuclear power plants at the Mithivirdi site in Gujarat, India.

The company has signed an MoU with the Nuclear Power Company of India for the project, which calls for negotiation of an early works agreement supporting future construction of the nuclear power plants including preliminary licensing and site development work.

"This agreement is an important step which will allow Westinghouse and NPCIL to continue the work necessary for keeping the Mithivirdi project moving forward," said Westinghouse India vice president and managing director Gary Urquhart. 

The agreement is in line with the India-US civil nuclear agreement signed in 2008.

The Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear power plant is a Generation III+ design which relies on natural forces of gravity, natural circulation, and compressed gases to keep the core and containment from overheating.

The AP1000 is designed to be safely shut down and still remains cool for seven days without auxiliary water supply.