US energy major General Electric (GE) is exploring business opportunities for civilian nuclear power

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in India, including nuclear reactors and plant services.

GE is also interested in providing fuel for both existing and new nuclear power reactors, the company's Regional Executive Kishore Jayaraman said replying to a question whether the company preferred technical cooperation or turnkey project arrangements with India.

"We are interested in pursuing more detailed exchanges with Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) as soon as permitted under the US law," he said.

Collaboration with Indian vendors would be an important element of GEH's (GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy) approach to Indian power plants and could have the potential for broader worldwide cooperation in some cases, Jayaraman said.

"We believe that India's expanded nuclear industry will potentially create significant opportunities for both Indian and US companies, including reactor, fuel, and service opportunities for GE," the executive said.

Asked what would be the cost of energy per unit, he said that there were many variables to consider before any estimates can be arrived upon, he said. To a query on the likely conditions for fuel supply from GE, Jayaram said, "this is a matter of discussion between the governments and we will operate within the framework that is agreed upon."

GE already has a joint venture with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, largest Indian engineering enterprises for designing heavy-duty gas turbines.

Once the 123 agreement is ratified in the US Congress, GE will be one of the important vendors supplying Light Water Reactors to India and according to NPCIL, it would be based on technical cooperation.

GE was responsible to build India's first nuclear reactors -- a Boiling Light Water Reactor at Tarapur in the late 1960s.

Replying to a query on how many plants GE was planning and how many megawatts each to be set up in India and the unit energy cost, Jayaraman said, "this was a discussion for the future, once we have learnt about the current nuclear technology and power generation requirements and plans."