Indian Civil Nuclear News & Discussions.
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RPK
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The Hindu : Front Page : Indo-French deal gives assurance of lifetime supply of nuclear fuel for French reactors
NEW DELHI: The Indo-French Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, signed by the two countries in Paris on September 30, 2008, explicitly allows for reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel from French nuclear reactors under safeguards, and gives an assurance of lifetime supply of nuclear fuel for these reactors.
Significantly, the agreement does not explicitly bar the transfer of enrichment and reprocessing technologies, the so-called ENR technologies or Sensitive Nuclear Technologies. Transfer of these to India from the United States requires a special amendment to the India-U.S. Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (the 123 Agreement) and congressional approval of the same.
French nuclear supplier Areva has been allotted the nuclear project site at Jaitapur in Maharashtra to initially build two power plants based on Arevas EPR1600 light water reactors. The India-specific waiver of the nuclear transfer guidelines of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was issued on September 6, 2008.
These aspects of the Indo-French agreement have now become clear after the document became public subsequent to its approval by the French Senate (the upper chamber) on October 15, 2009. The agreement still needs the approval of the Parliaments lower chamber, the National Assembly, for its final ratification. The Assembly, according to the French Embassys press information officer Allen Perier, took up the review of the Agreement on October 28. It is hoped that this should happen by the end of November and the agreement should enter into force by the end of the year.
Now that India has unconditional reprocessing rights from both Russia and France except for requiring that reprocessing be done under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) the U.S. would seem to be at a disadvantage vis-À-vis these two. Under Article 6 (iii) of the 123 Agreement, reprocessing rights over spent fuel from a U.S. facility may be granted only after subsequent arrangements and procedures are worked out. These are at present under negotiations between the two countries.
It is, therefore, not clear as yet if such rights would be granted at all and, even if granted, whether they would be unconditional. Moreover, the 123 Agreement requires a new reprocessing facility under IAEA safeguards to be built, which is not the case for the Russian or French grant of reprocessing rights.
Article V (3) of the Indo-French agreement says: Reprocessing and any other alteration in form or content of nuclear material transferred pursuant to this Agreement and nuclear material used in or produced through the use of material, nuclear material, equipment or technology so transferred shall be carried out in a national nuclear facility under IAEA safeguards. Any special fissionable material that may be separated thereby may be stored and utilised in national facilities in the recipient country under IAEA safeguards.
Article I (2) that describes the ambit of cooperation includes the following: Full civil nuclear cooperation activities covering nuclear reactors, nuclear fuel supply and other aspects as agreed between the parties; nuclear fuel and nuclear fuel cycle management including through the development strategic reserve of nuclear fuel to guard against any disruption of supply over the lifetime of Indias safeguarded nuclear reactors.
Article V (1) elaborates on this as follows: The party supplying nuclear power plant shall facilitate reliable uninterrupted and continued access nuclear fuel supplies, reactor systems and components for the lifetime of the supplied nuclear power plant. In respect of supply of nuclear fuel for the lifetime of Indias safeguarded reactors, long term contracts will be established between respective designated entities of the parties.
Article V (2) further adds: To further safeguard against any disruption of supply over the lifetime of Indias safeguarded reactors, France will support an Indian effort to develop a strategic reserve of nuclear fuel. This support includes France convening a group of friendly countries or joining such a group convened by others to pursue such measures as would restore fuel supply to India in the event of fuel supplies to India.
As regards technology or equipment transferred, Article I (3) says without any qualification: Cooperation under the Agreement may take the following forms: Supply of material, nuclear material, equipment, technology, facilities and services including setting up of nuclear power projects. The Article significantly also includes Nuclear cooperation projects in third countries.
However, the Agreement requires the establishment of a civil nuclear liability regime, as has been insisted upon by the U.S. as well. Article VIII (2) says: The Parties agree that, for the purpose of compensating for damage caused by a nuclear incident involving nuclear material, equipment, facilities and technology [transferred under the Agreement], each Party shall create a civil nuclear liability regime based on established international principles. It is known that a draft Indian bill for a civil nuclear liability law is ready and is under inter-ministerial discussions before it comes up before the Parliament for its enactment.
NEW DELHI: The Indo-French Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, signed by the two countries in Paris on September 30, 2008, explicitly allows for reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel from French nuclear reactors under safeguards, and gives an assurance of lifetime supply of nuclear fuel for these reactors.
Significantly, the agreement does not explicitly bar the transfer of enrichment and reprocessing technologies, the so-called ENR technologies or Sensitive Nuclear Technologies. Transfer of these to India from the United States requires a special amendment to the India-U.S. Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (the 123 Agreement) and congressional approval of the same.
French nuclear supplier Areva has been allotted the nuclear project site at Jaitapur in Maharashtra to initially build two power plants based on Arevas EPR1600 light water reactors. The India-specific waiver of the nuclear transfer guidelines of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was issued on September 6, 2008.
These aspects of the Indo-French agreement have now become clear after the document became public subsequent to its approval by the French Senate (the upper chamber) on October 15, 2009. The agreement still needs the approval of the Parliaments lower chamber, the National Assembly, for its final ratification. The Assembly, according to the French Embassys press information officer Allen Perier, took up the review of the Agreement on October 28. It is hoped that this should happen by the end of November and the agreement should enter into force by the end of the year.
Now that India has unconditional reprocessing rights from both Russia and France except for requiring that reprocessing be done under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) the U.S. would seem to be at a disadvantage vis-À-vis these two. Under Article 6 (iii) of the 123 Agreement, reprocessing rights over spent fuel from a U.S. facility may be granted only after subsequent arrangements and procedures are worked out. These are at present under negotiations between the two countries.
It is, therefore, not clear as yet if such rights would be granted at all and, even if granted, whether they would be unconditional. Moreover, the 123 Agreement requires a new reprocessing facility under IAEA safeguards to be built, which is not the case for the Russian or French grant of reprocessing rights.
Article V (3) of the Indo-French agreement says: Reprocessing and any other alteration in form or content of nuclear material transferred pursuant to this Agreement and nuclear material used in or produced through the use of material, nuclear material, equipment or technology so transferred shall be carried out in a national nuclear facility under IAEA safeguards. Any special fissionable material that may be separated thereby may be stored and utilised in national facilities in the recipient country under IAEA safeguards.
Article I (2) that describes the ambit of cooperation includes the following: Full civil nuclear cooperation activities covering nuclear reactors, nuclear fuel supply and other aspects as agreed between the parties; nuclear fuel and nuclear fuel cycle management including through the development strategic reserve of nuclear fuel to guard against any disruption of supply over the lifetime of Indias safeguarded nuclear reactors.
Article V (1) elaborates on this as follows: The party supplying nuclear power plant shall facilitate reliable uninterrupted and continued access nuclear fuel supplies, reactor systems and components for the lifetime of the supplied nuclear power plant. In respect of supply of nuclear fuel for the lifetime of Indias safeguarded reactors, long term contracts will be established between respective designated entities of the parties.
Article V (2) further adds: To further safeguard against any disruption of supply over the lifetime of Indias safeguarded reactors, France will support an Indian effort to develop a strategic reserve of nuclear fuel. This support includes France convening a group of friendly countries or joining such a group convened by others to pursue such measures as would restore fuel supply to India in the event of fuel supplies to India.
As regards technology or equipment transferred, Article I (3) says without any qualification: Cooperation under the Agreement may take the following forms: Supply of material, nuclear material, equipment, technology, facilities and services including setting up of nuclear power projects. The Article significantly also includes Nuclear cooperation projects in third countries.
However, the Agreement requires the establishment of a civil nuclear liability regime, as has been insisted upon by the U.S. as well. Article VIII (2) says: The Parties agree that, for the purpose of compensating for damage caused by a nuclear incident involving nuclear material, equipment, facilities and technology [transferred under the Agreement], each Party shall create a civil nuclear liability regime based on established international principles. It is known that a draft Indian bill for a civil nuclear liability law is ready and is under inter-ministerial discussions before it comes up before the Parliament for its enactment.
KillBill
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ek_indian
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Let me answer you.
India is in India lobby.
We have independent foreign policy. It gives topmost priority to its own interest. We have good relations with almost everyone including Russia, USA, EU, Isreal, Iran, ME countries etc. etc.
I hope you get the idea.
To add to that India has clean track records with regards to use or transfer of nuclear materials.
Ruag
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India's NPCIL to begin construction of two nuclear reactors in Gujarat by year-end
Power Engineering - India's NPCIL to begin construction of two nuclear reactors in Gujarat by year-end
Power Engineering - India's NPCIL to begin construction of two nuclear reactors in Gujarat by year-end
Ruag
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Indian Oil Signs Pact With Nuclear Power to Build Plants
Indian Oil Signs Pact With Nuclear Power to Build Plants - WSJ.com
Indian Oil Signs Pact With Nuclear Power to Build Plants - WSJ.com
RPK
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India, EU hold 10th Summit, sign pact on Fusion Energy Research | NetIndian | India News | Latest News from India | Breaking News from India | Latest Headlines
India, EU hold 10th Summit, sign pact on Fusion Energy Research
India and the European Union (EU) today signed an agreement in the field of Fusion Energy Research and decided to forge stronger cooperation in the areas of science and technology, education and culture.
"This agreement underscores the growing importance of energy security and clean energy in our cooperation," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told mediapersons after the 10th India-EU Summit.
The summit was attended by, among others, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt of Sweden and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
Dr Singh said talks at the summit were very productive and wide-ranging and held in a spirit of friendship and warmth, which he described as the hallmark of India-EU relations.
The two sides reviewed the progress on the Joint Action Plan that was adopted by them in 2005 and agreed on measures to speed up its implementation.
Dr Singh said India and the EU had a Strategic Partnership based on shared values of democracy, pluralism, cultural diversity and respect for human rights.
"In this context, we reviewed the entire spectrum of our bilateral cooperation. We have identified trade and investment, energy, counter-terrorism, science and technology, climate change, and movement of peoples and as priority areas of our cooperation," he said.
Among other things, the two sides reviewed the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan and emphasised the need for concerted international action to combat terrorism.
They agreed to work towards early finalisation of the agreement between Europol and India. They also reviewed the situation in the Middle East, Iran, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
The two sides also exchanged views on other global and regional issues and agreed to continue to work closely on issues such as the reform of international institutions, the global economic and financial crisis, climate change and nuclear diarmament and non-proliferation.
"We agreed on the importance of a multi-lateral approach to addressing these challenges," Dr Singh said.
The Prime Minister said he was happy to note that, despite the economic slowdown, trade in goods and services between India and the EU had doubled over the past five years to reach almost euro 80 billion.
He said the two sides had agreed to expedite the conclusion of a balanced and mutually beneficial Broad Based Agreement on Trade and Investment that would lead to increased economic opportunities and creation of jobs as well as wealth. He invited European businesses to increase their investments in India.
Dr Singh also urged the EU to facilitate movement of people, especially professionals, businesspersons, students, members of civil society and tourists through a friendly visa regime.
"I am satisfied with the outcome of our discussions. India looks forward to taking this very important relationship forward in all areas," he added.
India, EU hold 10th Summit, sign pact on Fusion Energy Research
India and the European Union (EU) today signed an agreement in the field of Fusion Energy Research and decided to forge stronger cooperation in the areas of science and technology, education and culture.
"This agreement underscores the growing importance of energy security and clean energy in our cooperation," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told mediapersons after the 10th India-EU Summit.
The summit was attended by, among others, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt of Sweden and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
Dr Singh said talks at the summit were very productive and wide-ranging and held in a spirit of friendship and warmth, which he described as the hallmark of India-EU relations.
The two sides reviewed the progress on the Joint Action Plan that was adopted by them in 2005 and agreed on measures to speed up its implementation.
Dr Singh said India and the EU had a Strategic Partnership based on shared values of democracy, pluralism, cultural diversity and respect for human rights.
"In this context, we reviewed the entire spectrum of our bilateral cooperation. We have identified trade and investment, energy, counter-terrorism, science and technology, climate change, and movement of peoples and as priority areas of our cooperation," he said.
Among other things, the two sides reviewed the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan and emphasised the need for concerted international action to combat terrorism.
They agreed to work towards early finalisation of the agreement between Europol and India. They also reviewed the situation in the Middle East, Iran, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
The two sides also exchanged views on other global and regional issues and agreed to continue to work closely on issues such as the reform of international institutions, the global economic and financial crisis, climate change and nuclear diarmament and non-proliferation.
"We agreed on the importance of a multi-lateral approach to addressing these challenges," Dr Singh said.
The Prime Minister said he was happy to note that, despite the economic slowdown, trade in goods and services between India and the EU had doubled over the past five years to reach almost euro 80 billion.
He said the two sides had agreed to expedite the conclusion of a balanced and mutually beneficial Broad Based Agreement on Trade and Investment that would lead to increased economic opportunities and creation of jobs as well as wealth. He invited European businesses to increase their investments in India.
Dr Singh also urged the EU to facilitate movement of people, especially professionals, businesspersons, students, members of civil society and tourists through a friendly visa regime.
"I am satisfied with the outcome of our discussions. India looks forward to taking this very important relationship forward in all areas," he added.
RPK
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domain-b.com : Massive Indo-Canadian uranium order in the works
The world's largest supplier of uranium, Saskatoon, Canada-based uranium miner Cameco Corp, says a multimillion-dollar uranium deal is in the works with India for nuclear power plants.
In a conference call on Tuesday to discuss the company's third-quarter results, CEO Jerry Grandey said negotiations for an export order have been underway between Canadian authorities and India for more than a year and an order for more than seven million pounds of uranium is imminent.
"One of the interesting things is that India, of course, has got a very ambitious civilian nuclear power programme and they have shortage of uranium within the country," Grandey told CBC News in an interview. "So they've been quite eager to establish a long-term relationship with a supplier like Cameco so that we can - over many decades - supply them the fuel that they need."
Cameco opened offices in this country last month.
According to Grandey, India and China were the future of the nuclear power business, and Cameco Corp would expand ties with both of them. Grandey devoted a lot of time to the opportunities his firm saw in the two Asian giants, which are expected to dominate global uranium demand in the years to come.
"We're quite optimistic as time goes on that we'll be a major partner [and] supplier with both countries," he said.
Grandey was particularly excited about India, saying the governments of Canada and India are near a nuclear co-operation deal. He pointed out the fact that India uses CANDU style reactors makes it an even stronger opportunity.
"The spectrum of opportunities in India for us is broad," he said.
"It's both uranium supply as well as co-operation in other aspects of the CANDU fuel cycle, we hope, and could span exploration activities there and perhaps jointly abroad."
In China, he said that though the focus would remain on uranium supply deals, both sides could partner on activities elsewhere in the world.
According to the World Nuclear Association (WNA), China and India are building a combined 23 nuclear reactors, with another 57 in the planning stages. WNA has also forecast that China will produce six times more nuclear power in 2020 than it does today.
The world's largest supplier of uranium, Saskatoon, Canada-based uranium miner Cameco Corp, says a multimillion-dollar uranium deal is in the works with India for nuclear power plants.
In a conference call on Tuesday to discuss the company's third-quarter results, CEO Jerry Grandey said negotiations for an export order have been underway between Canadian authorities and India for more than a year and an order for more than seven million pounds of uranium is imminent.
"One of the interesting things is that India, of course, has got a very ambitious civilian nuclear power programme and they have shortage of uranium within the country," Grandey told CBC News in an interview. "So they've been quite eager to establish a long-term relationship with a supplier like Cameco so that we can - over many decades - supply them the fuel that they need."
Cameco opened offices in this country last month.
According to Grandey, India and China were the future of the nuclear power business, and Cameco Corp would expand ties with both of them. Grandey devoted a lot of time to the opportunities his firm saw in the two Asian giants, which are expected to dominate global uranium demand in the years to come.
"We're quite optimistic as time goes on that we'll be a major partner [and] supplier with both countries," he said.
Grandey was particularly excited about India, saying the governments of Canada and India are near a nuclear co-operation deal. He pointed out the fact that India uses CANDU style reactors makes it an even stronger opportunity.
"The spectrum of opportunities in India for us is broad," he said.
"It's both uranium supply as well as co-operation in other aspects of the CANDU fuel cycle, we hope, and could span exploration activities there and perhaps jointly abroad."
In China, he said that though the focus would remain on uranium supply deals, both sides could partner on activities elsewhere in the world.
According to the World Nuclear Association (WNA), China and India are building a combined 23 nuclear reactors, with another 57 in the planning stages. WNA has also forecast that China will produce six times more nuclear power in 2020 than it does today.
Screaming Skull
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- There are 4.5 billion tonnes of uranium in sea water, a thousand times more than what is known to exist in uranium mines
Thursday, Nov 12, 2009
K.S. PARTHASARATHY
Raja Ramanna Fellow, Department of Atomic Energy
Uranium in trace quantities is present in soil, rock and water. Bounteous nature leaves about 4.5 billion tonnes of uranium in sea water, a thousand times more than what is known to exist in uranium mines. Since its concentration is extremely low (only one particle of uranium for 34 million particles of other elements), harvesting uranium from sea is a formidable task.
Japanese technology
Japan developed a technology by using plastic sheets to which amidoxime, which is capable of selectively absorbing uranium from seawater, is grafted by high energy electron beam irradiation.
Scientists from the Desalination Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre recovered uranium at milligram levels from sea water using electron beam grafted amidoxime.
They developed a semi pilot scale facility to produce radiation grafted sheets of 1 metre X 1 metre size.
They collected about 800 microgrammes of uranium in five campaigns from CIRUS Jettyhead; about 1.8 milligrammes from the seawater intake and outfall canals at the Tarapur Atomic Power Station and around 200 microgrammes from Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Though these amounts are trivial, it gives confidence in the technology
Field trials carried out at the three locations gave concentration factors of 300, 600 and 700 for the submergence of the absorbent material for 12, 14 and 23 days respectively.
What are the reasons for obtaining different concentration factors at different locations? The concentration factor depends on corrosion, bio-fouling and their combined effect on the adsorption kinetics. These may be different at different locations, Dr P.K. Tewari, Head, Desalination Division, BARC responded to my query.
BARC scientists studied these factors and the mechanical properties of the materials used in the suspension assembly and the substrate. They established their compatibilities with seawater and process chemicals and the optimum submergence periods for various locations.
They also evaluated the potential of Polyhydroxamic Acid (PHOA) sorbent, for uptake of uranium from seawater. They obtained a concentration factor of over 190, when the resin, filled in a porous bag was dipped in seawater for a period ranging from 10-30 days.
BARC and the Commissariat a Energie Atomique (CEA), France, are collaborating to develop three innovative and efficient methods of uranium extraction from the concentrated brine rejected by integrated nuclear desalination systems, which both partners are currently developing.
The first method uses resin-grafted with calixarene (a synthetic material, indecently expensive!); magnetic separation is the second method and the third uses a canal system using absorbents.
These methods are highly selective but need further research and development.
Using three absorption cages, each of cross sectional area of 16 square metres and height of 16 cm and consisting of stacks of 52,000 uranium specific, non-woven sheets with a total mass of 350 kg, a Japanese group recovered more than one kg of uranium in terms of yellow cake during a submersion period of 240 days in the ocean.
Underwater farm
Dr Masao Tanada of the Japanese Atomic Energy Agency hopes to get funding to construct an under-water uranium farm covering nearly 400 square miles that would meet one-sixth of Japans annual uranium requirements.
Tanada asserts that Japans nuclear power industry can harvest the 8,000 tons it needs annually from the Kuroshio Current that flows along Japans eastern seaboard.
Japanese researchers found out that they can harvest uranium from sea by cultivating genetically engineered gulfweed which will grow in sea at an unbelievable rate of two metres an year. The weed selectively soaks up heavy metals including uranium.
A spin-off
What will you do with possibly the millions of tons of grass left over after recovering uranium? Convert it to bioethanol! Gulfweed is an ideal non-food source of bio-ethanol. Gulfweed traps carbondioxide from sea.
Conventional uranium mining requires environmental restoration including long term tailings management. Uranium recovery from the sea does not leave any tailings. With superb green credentials, it is an environmental friendly process.
India has miles to go to reach kilogramme capacities of uranium. BARC has plans to upgrade the capacity.
( ksparth@yahoo.co.uk )
The Hindu : Sci Tech : Technologies to harvest uranium from sea
--------------------------------------
The writer is a former Secretary of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Mumbai. He is currently a Raja Ramanna Fellow in the Strategic Planning Group, Department of Atomic Energy, Mumbai.
He maintains his own blog- My articles
-Skull
Im_a_bud_bud
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How developed is our nuclear arsenal anyways? Do we have the tech at present to harvest underwater?
regards
RPK
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'Russia keen to build more nuclear reactors for India'
fullstory
Tirunelveli (TN), Nov 12 (PTI) Russia, currently assisting India in the construction of two 1,000 MWe nuclear power reactors at Koodankulam nuclear plant in this district, is negotiating with New Delhi to build more reactors, its Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Sobyanin has said.
"Russian Federation is prepared to construct new cost-effective nuclear reactors for India, considering its energy needs, and negotiations are going on in this direction," Sobyanin, on a visit to the Koodankulam nuclear power plant yesterday, told reporters.
Heading a nine-member high-level delegation, Sobyanin inspected the progress of the work on construction of the 2 X 1000 MWe reactors in collaboration with Russia at a cost of Rs 13,171 crore at the plant.
Russia was keen to build two more such reactors for the plant, he said.
Expressing satisfaction over the progress of the work, he said the process of installation of equipment was going on.
fullstory
Tirunelveli (TN), Nov 12 (PTI) Russia, currently assisting India in the construction of two 1,000 MWe nuclear power reactors at Koodankulam nuclear plant in this district, is negotiating with New Delhi to build more reactors, its Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Sobyanin has said.
"Russian Federation is prepared to construct new cost-effective nuclear reactors for India, considering its energy needs, and negotiations are going on in this direction," Sobyanin, on a visit to the Koodankulam nuclear power plant yesterday, told reporters.
Heading a nine-member high-level delegation, Sobyanin inspected the progress of the work on construction of the 2 X 1000 MWe reactors in collaboration with Russia at a cost of Rs 13,171 crore at the plant.
Russia was keen to build two more such reactors for the plant, he said.
Expressing satisfaction over the progress of the work, he said the process of installation of equipment was going on.
Tejas-MkII
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Canada needs India more than India needs Canada, says newspaper- Politics/Nation-News-The Economic Times
Canada needs India more than India needs Canada, says newspaper
13 Nov 2009, 1405 hrs IST, IANS
TORONTO: A nuclear deal with India is a must to save Canada's nuclear industry, a respected Canadian daily said in Toronto ahead of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's visit to India next week.
Harper will visit Mumbai, New Delhi and Amritsar during his three-day trip from November 16 - the longest by him to any country so far.
In the opinion piece "Why Harper needs a nuclear deal with India'', the daily said that a nuclear accord on the lines of the Indo-US deal last year is needed to keep Canada's nuclear industry alive.
Even if the deal is not signed during the visit because of ongoing negotiations, the paper says it will be signed soon "for this simple reason: Canada needs India more than India needs Canada.''
The two countries have exchanged many drafts on the proposed deal.
Though Trade Minister Stockwell Day is keen to seal the deal, Canadian "striped pants set in (the ministry of) foreign affairs'' are opposed to it, the newspaper said, referring to opposition by Canadian bureaucrats. The bureaucrats accuse India of misappropriating Canadian nuclear-reactor technology supplied in the 1960s to develop its nuclear programme.
But over the past two years, both countries have been attempting to improve relations, which should be close, if only because more than a million Canadians are of Indian ancestry, with only China sending more immigrants here each year, the article said.
Despite the global slowdown, it said, India's economy will grow by 6 per cent this year.
"With growth comes hunger for energy. India's 17 nuclear reactors provide only 2.5 per cent of the country's electricity, but that figure is expected to double within a decade,'' the newspaper said.
"And there is the question of whether such an agreement would also include the sale of uranium to fuel Indian power plants. Australia, another major supplier of uranium, is resisting selling uranium to India unless it signs the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Agreement, which is unlikely, given that both India and its rival Pakistan are nuclear powers.''
Considering all these issues, the newspaper said, "the fact remains that Canada's hand is weak and India's strong.
"India and China are the two big markets for nuclear energy technology, with dozens of new reactors planned or under construction.'' If Canada wants to have any hope of keeping its nuclear energy industry alive, it must reach civilian nuclear agreements with both countries, the article opined.
"The world has come a long way from India as the jewel of the British Empire and the wars and incursions that left China prostrate at the hands of the great European and North American powers.
"It is those powers, struggling to shake off the nagging fear that they are in decline, that now knock on India and China's door, hat in hand, asking if they can please come in,'' the newspaper wrote.
Three Canadian prime ministers have visited India during the past six years. IK Gujral was the last Indian prime minister to visit Canada during his short tenure in 1997-98.
Canadian ministers have made 11 visits to India over the past two and a half years, including five this year alone to boost trade between the two countries which still languishes well below $5 billion.
Canada needs India more than India needs Canada, says newspaper
13 Nov 2009, 1405 hrs IST, IANS
TORONTO: A nuclear deal with India is a must to save Canada's nuclear industry, a respected Canadian daily said in Toronto ahead of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's visit to India next week.
Harper will visit Mumbai, New Delhi and Amritsar during his three-day trip from November 16 - the longest by him to any country so far.
In the opinion piece "Why Harper needs a nuclear deal with India'', the daily said that a nuclear accord on the lines of the Indo-US deal last year is needed to keep Canada's nuclear industry alive.
Even if the deal is not signed during the visit because of ongoing negotiations, the paper says it will be signed soon "for this simple reason: Canada needs India more than India needs Canada.''
The two countries have exchanged many drafts on the proposed deal.
Though Trade Minister Stockwell Day is keen to seal the deal, Canadian "striped pants set in (the ministry of) foreign affairs'' are opposed to it, the newspaper said, referring to opposition by Canadian bureaucrats. The bureaucrats accuse India of misappropriating Canadian nuclear-reactor technology supplied in the 1960s to develop its nuclear programme.
But over the past two years, both countries have been attempting to improve relations, which should be close, if only because more than a million Canadians are of Indian ancestry, with only China sending more immigrants here each year, the article said.
Despite the global slowdown, it said, India's economy will grow by 6 per cent this year.
"With growth comes hunger for energy. India's 17 nuclear reactors provide only 2.5 per cent of the country's electricity, but that figure is expected to double within a decade,'' the newspaper said.
"And there is the question of whether such an agreement would also include the sale of uranium to fuel Indian power plants. Australia, another major supplier of uranium, is resisting selling uranium to India unless it signs the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Agreement, which is unlikely, given that both India and its rival Pakistan are nuclear powers.''
Considering all these issues, the newspaper said, "the fact remains that Canada's hand is weak and India's strong.
"India and China are the two big markets for nuclear energy technology, with dozens of new reactors planned or under construction.'' If Canada wants to have any hope of keeping its nuclear energy industry alive, it must reach civilian nuclear agreements with both countries, the article opined.
"The world has come a long way from India as the jewel of the British Empire and the wars and incursions that left China prostrate at the hands of the great European and North American powers.
"It is those powers, struggling to shake off the nagging fear that they are in decline, that now knock on India and China's door, hat in hand, asking if they can please come in,'' the newspaper wrote.
Three Canadian prime ministers have visited India during the past six years. IK Gujral was the last Indian prime minister to visit Canada during his short tenure in 1997-98.
Canadian ministers have made 11 visits to India over the past two and a half years, including five this year alone to boost trade between the two countries which still languishes well below $5 billion.
Screaming Skull
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14 November 2009,
TORONTO: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will visit India next week, his maiden official trip to the country during which the two sides are expected to finalise a civil nuclear deal and ink a major economic treaty besides exploring ways to lower trade barriers.
The Conservative leader will pay a three-day visit to India from November 16 after participating in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Singapore, the Prime Minister's office said. This will be followed by a visit to China from December 2 to 6.
Harper, who will be accompanied by a high-powered delegation, will discuss bilateral issues with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
He is also expected to finalise a deal allowing Canadian firms to sell civilian nuclear technology to India and sign a Foreign Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement to safeguard investors' rights in the two countries, officials said.
Noting that "there is a tremendous amount of potential" in Canada's ties with India, Harper said in a statement, "We share a history of cooperation in the Commonwealth and the United Nations, as well as a shared commitment to pluralism, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
"Our goal is to build a stronger, more dynamic partnership based on shared commercial, political and regional interests," he said.
Canadian PM to visit India next week, N-deal on agenda - India - The Times of India
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