India likely to name nuclear plant sites during Clinton’s July visit

India, which has became sanctions-proof with the signing of the 123 agreement, is likely to announce the locations for the setting up of two nuclear power plants, during US secretary of state Hillary Clinton's visit to New Delhi in July.

"We hope, at that time, Indians will be in a position to announce whereabouts of the nuclear parks - we hope to have two sites that would be announced, where American companies can go in and provide new reactors, which would be a major source of new business opportunities for American companies," assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia Robert Blake said in Washington yesterday.

"We are making a great deal of progress. We are most of the way there now. India, as you know, just signed their additional protocol, and now they have got to file with the IAEA (international Atomic Energy Agency) the list of their safeguarded facilities," Blake said.

Announced on 18 July 2005 during the celebrated Washington visit of prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh, the US-India nuclear deal was finally consummated with the signing, on 9 October 2008, of the US-India 123 Agreement by then secretary state, Condoleezza Rice and former foreign minister, Pranab Mukherjee. (See: Indo-US nuclear deal: signed, sealed and delivered)

The 123 agreement opens up tremendous opportunities for the nuclear industry, and a number of industry giants across the world started official discussions with India for setting up nuclear power plants in the country.

France had the first movers' advantage and bagged a huge contract in the multi-billion dollar industry. (See: French firm Areva supplies first batch of nuclear fuel to India)