The Hindu Business Line : US' offer may help India to renew talks with other nuclear powers

INDIA may finally cease to be an untouchable as a nuclear power if the US' offer to supply the country nuclear energy technology, takes off. It may in fact help India renew talks for acquiring technology from other nuclear powers such as Russia and France.

The US offer will, however, not have any bearing on India's planned nuclear energy projects' schedule, said Mr S.K. Jain, Chairman and Managing Director, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd.

"India has devised its own nuclear power technology. And we have in-place a nuclear power generation schedule for the next 30-odd years. We welcome technological and financial support from the US. And from any country, which respects our nuclear position," said Mr Jain.

India has faced a technology embargo from nuclear states after its second round of nuclear tests in 1998. Also, it has also been criticised for not signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

As a result, India did not have access to advanced nuclear technology. NPCIL, which is the sole nuclear power generator in the country, has so far built thorium-fired pressurised heavy water reactors. This is a sequential technology and the schedule has only recently allowed NPCIL to build the second stage fast breeder reactors.

According to Mr S.A. Bohra, NPCIL's Director (Technical), US technology will be most welcome for setting up new projects. Although India is setting up 1,000 MW light water reactors at Kudankulam with aid from Russia, but that was before the latter signed the NPT.

But NPCIL is expecting the American offer to open doors for acquiring technology from other countries too.

"We were in talks with France before the embargo and would like to examine opportunities to resume the negotiations. Also, Russia may resume its cooperation," Mr Jain said.

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