In a plan that is drawing diplomatic protests from abroad and political objections at home, the Westinghouse Electric Corp. intends to use its own technology to complete two Soviet-designed nuclear reactors in the Czech Republic with the backing of the Clinton administration.
In support of the first attempt to graft American technology onto a Soviet reactor, the administration rebuffed congressional and environmental opponents to approve $317 million in loan guarantees to finance the work.
Administration officials said that the Westinghouse technology was a step toward the broader goal of improving safety at Soviet-designed reactors. There are 16 uncompleted reactors in Eastern Europe, as well as more than 50 operating or under construction in Russia, Ukraine, and Bulgaria.