Westinghouse And Nuclear Power Company Of India Limited Sign Memorandum Of Understanding For Early Works Agreement

PITTSBURGH, June 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Westinghouse Electric Company LLC and Nuclear Power Company of India Limited today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreeing to negotiate an Early Works Agreement (EWA) supporting future construction of AP1000^® nuclear power plants at the Mithivirdi site in Gujarat.

The agreement represents significant progress toward the realization of the India – U.S. Civil Nuclear Agreement signed in 2008.  The Early Works Agreement will include 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 Gary Urquhart, vice president and managing director of Westinghouse India.

The Westinghouse AP1000^® nuclear power plant is licensed in both the U.S. and China, and is recognized as the safest, most advanced Generation III+ design.  Rather than relying on active components such as diesel generators and pumps, the AP1000^® relies on the natural forces of gravity, natural circulation, and compressed gases to keep the core and containment from overheating. Even with no operator action and a complete loss of all on-site and off-site AC power, the AP1000^® will safely shut down and remain cool for seven days without the need for auxiliary water supply.

Westinghouse Electric Company, a group company of Toshiba Corporation (TKY:6502), is the world's pioneering nuclear energy company and is a leading supplier of nuclear plant products and technologies to utilities throughout the world.  Westinghouse supplied the world's first pressurized water reactor in 1957 in Shippingport, Pa.  Today, Westinghouse technology is the basis for approximately one-half of the world's operating nuclear plants.

SOURCE Westinghouse Electric Company