India plans to buy at least two new nuclear reactors from the United States, creating thousands of jobs for the American nuclear industry.
The nation of 1.1 billion wants to build eight new reactors by 2012, adding to its existing network of 17.
Until recently, India could not buy nuclear technology from abroad because it refused to sign the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty. But under a new Indo-US deal, India can buy the reactors as long as it collaborates with the US in developing proliferation-resistant technology.
The US State Department claims the sales will create 3-5,000 direct jobs and 10-15,000 indirect jobs in the United States.