National

Delhi in talks with foreign nuclear firms

NEW DELHI: With the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) approving the exemption for India, the government said it had started dialogue with overseas companies for setting up nuclear power plants.

“In view of the public interest in developments relating to our civil nuclear initiative, I can inform you that following the NSG statement, which enables civil nuclear cooperation by NSG members with India, the government is taking steps to realise commercial cooperation with foreign partners in the field,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said in a statement.

“We have informed the U.S. about our intent to source state-of-the-art nuclear technologies and facilities based on the provisions of the 123 Agreement from the U.S. The government is also moving towards finalising bilateral agreements with other friendly partner countries such as France and Russia. While actual cooperation will commence after bilateral agreements like the 123 Agreement come into force, the Nuclear Power Cooperation of India has commenced a preliminary dialogue with U.S. companies in this regard,” Mr. Sarna said.

India had signalled to France and Russia about its intent to enter into nuclear cooperation but the enabling agreements were not operationalised as the NSG exemption was awaited.

Informed sources said a joint delegation, comprising representatives of a Russian company and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), visited Kudankulam to examine the feasibility of setting up four more units of 1000 MW each.

Both sides were in the process of installing four units of 1000 MW each as per an agreement signed before the NSG barred countries from entering into nuclear commerce with India as it was not a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The Russian Ambassador has left for Moscow for talks with his country’s leadership on several issues that will also include cooperation in the nuclear arena.

A Russian company Atomsexport and NPCIL have concurred on resuming talks next month.

Similarly, the French too are keen on its company Areva being given a piece of the nuclear power generation cake.

The company’s representatives have been frequent visitors to the country, while India was engaged in securing a safeguards agreement from the International Atomic Energy Agency and exemption from the NSG.

The company is understood to have zeroed in on a site in western Maharashtra but will have to wait a state level agreement that diplomats expect could be signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Paris on September 29 and 30 after attending the India-EU summit in Marseilles.

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