U.S. President George W. Bush (C), surrounded by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) (R), Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (2nd R), Senator George Allen (3rd R) (R-VA), Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) (4th R), Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY) (4th L), Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY) (3rd-L), Senator Dick Lugar (R-IN) (2nd L), and Thad McCotter (R-MI) (L), signs H.R. 5682, the U.S.-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act, into law in the East Room of the White House in Washington on December 18, 2006. (UPI Photo/Kevin Dietsch) |
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The comments came at an event to inaugurate a gas-based power plant in New Delhi.
India's United Progressive Alliance government has had a difficult time to push through a civilian nuclear deal with the United States because its leftist allies are opposed to the deal on the grounds it will compromise sovereignty. The deal gives India access to U.S. civilian nuclear technology.
Nuclear power accounts for 3 percent of India's installed power generation capacity, while more than 60 percent is provided by coal. Singh said while some coal might be cheap now, there's no way of knowing what will be affordable in the future.
Developing nuclear will help the country diversify its energy resources, he said.