The Hindu Business Line : Access to nuclear fuel from Russian unit likely

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New Delhi Feb. 19 India could get access to nuclear fuel supplies from the proposed Angarsk International Uranium Enrichment Centre being set up by Russia for supply of uranium to countries with nuclear energy programmes under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.

While Russia's Federal Atomic Energy Agency (RosAtom) representatives have indicated at the possibility of India being included in the project during bilateral meetings held earlier this year, Moscow has clearly linked India's participation in the project to the lifting of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) restrictions in the wake of Indo-US nuclear deal, said the Government officials involved in the exercise.

Fuel supplies from the facility could be considered for units being set up through Russian assistance in the country, once international clearances are in place.

At present, Russia is building two power units in India with 1,000-MW light water reactors at Koodankulam and collaborations on about 10 new units are under way in the wake of the pact reached between India and Russia in January. Four of these would be additional units at Koodankulam station itself.

Uranium centre

The International Uranium Enrichment Centre, which Russia is setting up in collaboration with countries such as Kazakhstan under IAEA supervision at the Angarsk Electrolysis Chemical Plant in Eastern Siberia, could start full-fledged operations as early as by the middle of this year.

Russia had proposed setting up the centre early last year, in the backdrop of tensions over Iran's nuclear ambitions, as a way to safeguard nuclear non-proliferation goals by providing uranium fuel to countries intent on building nuclear power plants, while making sure they do not develop nuclear weapons programmes.

According to reports, there has been a general consensus among NSG members about Russia conducting enrichment at such a standalone facility.

Angarsk facility

The Angarsk facility has traditionally been associated with Russian civilian nuclear programme and had been kept completely out of the erstwhile Soviet Union's atomic weapons programme, thereby, making it easier for the plant to be put under IAEA control.

The centre is expected to produce only low-enriched uranium, which cannot be diverted for building nuclear weapons.

Uranium enriched to low levels can be used as fuel for nuclear power plants, but higher levels of enrichment make it possible to divert the fuel for the construction of the core of a nuclear bomb.

During the bilateral meetings, India has also expressed interest in the international project on innovative nuclear reactors and fuel cycles (INPRO) initiated at IAEA by Russia, said the Government officials.

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