India Canada sign nuke deal
The India-Canada Agreement for Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear-Energy, signed today provides for cooperation in areas as design, construction, maintenance, sharing of operating experience and decommissioning of nuclear reactors, supply of uranium, projects in third countries, nuclear fuel cycle and nuclear waste management. The two countries may promote cooperation in the development and use of nuclear energy applications in the fields of agriculture, health care, industry and environment; and nuclear safety, radiation safety and environmental protection.
The agreement opens up the Indian market to Canadian nuclear exports, allowing Canadian firms access to India’s expanding nuclear market. Taking into account the respective strengths of the two countries with regard to Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) and CANDU Reactors, there is considerable scope for joint work between the two countries.
The deal was signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Canada to take part in the G-20 summit and includes co-operation in the fields of nuclear waste management and radiation safety.
“The Civil Nuclear Co-operation Agreement that we have signed breaks new ground in the history of our co-operation in this very important sector,” Singh told reporters at the signing ceremony with his Canadian counterpart, Stephen Harper, in Toronto. “It reflects the change in international realities and will open new doors for mutually beneficial co-operation in nuclear energy,” he added.
The contribution of nuclear energy is expected to rise from a mere 3 per cent today as India embarks on a substantial expansion of nuclear power reactors over the next few decades.
Coal still accounts for more than 50 per cent of India’s energy use.
The agreement marks a turning point for Canada, which stopped nuclear co-operation with India in 1974 after India used plutonium from a Canadian reactor to build an atomic bomb.
India’s nuclear isolation ended after it signed a landmark agreement with the United States in October 2008.
The MoU will establish cooperation between the two countries in the fields of mining and earth sciences. It envisages cooperation specifically in the areas of:
a. exploration geochemistry and geophysics;
b. geo-hazards;
c. geo-science information and related informatics;
d. environmental geology;
e. cooperation in improved dialogue on mining and related activities at various international fora;
f. encouragement of improved market access and bilateral in investment in relation to mining in both countries where appropriate; and
g. other areas of mutual interest to be decided upon by the participants.
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