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India, US to discuss bilateral nuclear agreement
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India plans to generate 40,000 mw of power by 2030 using nuclear energy
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Scoping for uranium deposits in several Indian states is to start
India and the US are to start conversations on developing a bilateral nuclear
agreement that could be linked to the civilian nuclear deal that they signed
July 2005 and is currently being debated in the US Congress. The US has sent
experts from the State Department, Department of Energy, and Bureau of Security
and Non-Proliferation are in New Delhi to discuss the deal that both countries
“desire to establish a framework for broad-ranging peaceful nuclear
cooperation.”
The US is expected to ask India to cap nuclear testing even if it has not
ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT); experts say that this is
something that India will never do although it has announced a unilateral
moratorium but would not like it to be formal. Experts also say that India does
not really need technology but need the US to lift the ban on uranium imports
to India so it can tide over shortages that is stopping invested reactors from
producing power. Ultimately, India plans to generate 40,000 megawatts (MW) by
2030 using nuclear energy.
Simultaneously, the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is planning to set up
Greenfield mining facilities in Nalgonda and Kadapah districts of
Andhra Pradesh
(AP) with an investment of Rs. 1600 crores (USD 347 million). The project
requires clearances from the Ministries of Mining and Environment and if
successful, India will not require any clearances, approvals, or treaties to
use nuclear energy. Apart from AP,
Meghalaya,
Karnataka,
Rajasthan,
and Madhya
Pradesh are said to have large deposits of uranium. Analysts say that local
activism, presence of the potential mine in a protected area, etc. are stopping
exploration.
India also has large deposits of thorium (the only country to have it) which
can also be used as fuel. Unfortunately, the technology for commercial
production will not be available for another 20 years.
Meanwhile, the US House of Representatives is planning to discuss the civilian
nuclear deal later this month. The deal itself got a major endorsement from
House International Relations Committee Chairman Henry Hyde albeit with “some
concerns” but is apparently looking for “ways to addressing them.” Reports also
say that the deal will only get a tentative endorsement with riders that may be
inconvenient. Some lawmakers are also asking for a clear enumeration of
safeguards that can then be attached to the legislation before it is endorsed.
India is already negotiating these safeguards with the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA).
The influential
Council for Foreign Relations had argued that the House needs to approve the
deal quickly, even if it is tentative, so that bilateral relations do not
suffer.
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