GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy’s CEO Caroline Reda to Promote Nuclear Energy as Part of US-India Trade Mission

The group will be visiting several cities in India, among them New Delhi and Mumbai, in order to explore export opportunities in a broad range of advanced industrial sectors including civil nuclear power generation, trade, defense and security, civil aviation, information and communications technologies.
This trade mission seeks to further President Barack Obama’s goal of doubling U.S. exports by 2015, supporting economic growth and creating several million new jobs. In 2010, U.S. exports to India increased to $19.3 billion, a nearly 18 percent increase from 2009’s level of $16.4 billion.
“Exports are leading the U.S. economic recovery, spurring future economic growth and creating jobs in America,” Locke said when the administration first announced its plans for the trade mission in late 2010. “Increasing trade between the U.S. and India will help drive innovation and create jobs in both countries. As trading partners, U.S. companies can help India meet the ambitious economic and social goals laid out by its government, while the Indian market holds enormous potential for U.S. exporters.”
Joining Reda for GE is Timothy Richards, GE Energy’s managing director for energy policy and a veteran of several previous missions to India. Those previous missions focused on civilian nuclear cooperation as a means to help modernize India’s industrial infrastructure and support future economic growth.
Reda is participating in her first mission to India since becoming GEH’s CEO in July 2010 as the two countries continue implementing their landmark agreement to allow U.S. firms to begin supplying nuclear technology and services to India. India currently has 19 reactors that generate a combined 4,560 megawatts (MW), but plans to expand its installed nuclear generating capacity to 20,000 MW by 2020 and 63,000 MW by 2032.
“We look forward to discussing how GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy can work with India’s government and business sectors to help them achieve their important economic and social development goals through the use of nuclear energy and other advanced energy infrastructure technologies,” Reda said.
India’s government has identified two potential sites in the western state of Gujarat and southern state of Andhra Pradesh for new nuclear plants utilizing U.S. civil nuclear technology including GEH’s 1,520-MW, advanced Generation III+ ESBWR technology.