“We are willing to sell to friendly nations like Malaysia, if there is a genuine interest, as nuclear power production is a long term commitment,” Sudhinder Thakur, executive director (corporate planning) of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) said.
After India conducted a nuclear test in 1974, the Nuclear Suppliers Group banned it from trading in nuclear technology. But when India signed a controversial nuclear deal with US in October 2008, the ban was lifted.
“From a technical point of view, we can sell these reactors,” said Thakur, adding that India was ready to promote the indigenous reactor to countries, which had adequate regulatory laws and expertise to operate it.
“The ultimate objective is to produce electricity as cheaply, using coal. It is commercially viable with these reactors. It is also 30 to 40 percent cheaper compared to coal,” Thakur said.
India has three other nuclear plants, which are under construction are estimated to be commissioned by 2009 and India aims to produce 25% of its electricity from nuclear power by 2050.
