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The growing partnership between India and the United States in the nuclear energy sector received a strong endorsement from Sergio Gor, Ambassador of the United States of America
to India, who stated, "Big things ahead in India-US collaboration on Nuclear energy!" His remarks came in the backdrop of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s announcement that the state is prepared to lead the next phase of India’s nuclear energy expansion.
At a meeting in Mumbai with the executive delegation of the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), Fadnavis emphasised that nuclear power will be vital for India’s industrial future.
He noted that Maharashtra, already a leader in attracting foreign investment and hosting the majority of India’s data centre capacity, is poised to become a hub for nuclear production, technology, and exports.
Highlighting Maharashtra’s economic strength, Fadnavis pointed out that the state attracts more than 40 per cent of India’s foreign investment and hosts nearly 60 per cent of the country’s data centre capacity in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. With sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, logistics, and advanced manufacturing expanding rapidly, electricity demand is expected to rise manifold in the coming years.
"Sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, logistics, and advanced manufacturing are rising on a large scale in Maharashtra, which will lead to a manifold increase in electricity demand in the coming years," he added.
The Chief Minister assured American companies of state support in land allocation, infrastructure, skill development, research collaboration, and incentives for early-stage projects. He also highlighted Maharashtra’s ambition to become an early hub for small modular reactors (SMR), positioning the state as a testing ground for next-generation nuclear energy.
"SMR technology is compatible with the future needs of the industrial economy, and Maharashtra can serve as an ideal testing ground for next-generation nuclear energy. Relations between India and the United States are now strengthening further in areas such as technology, defense, artificial intelligence, and supply chains," Maharashtra CMS said.
The meeting was attended by senior representatives from NEI, Centrus Energy, Clean Core Thorium Energy, Curtis-Wright Corporation, USISPF, Adalo International, and Holtec Asia, among others.
This announcement comes at a time when the world is grappling with energy challenges, making this collaboration in nuclear energy even more significant
