Russia offers India joint ventures for uranium mining

Vinay Shukla

Moscow, Nov 22 (PTI) Russia has offered joint ventures
in exploration and exploitation of uranium mining within its
territory and third countries, as part of moves to ease
shortage of fuel for India's nuclear power plants.

"We have offered the Indians participation in the
uranium mining projects in the Russian Federation and thirds
countries. The controlling stake in the joint projects must
remain with Rosatom and the partners could get up to 49 per
cent share in the projects inside Russia," state corporation
Rosatom spokesman Sergei Novikov was quoted as saying by RIA
Novosti.
He said the talks on the joint projects were held by
Rosatom CEO Sergei Kiriyenko in New Delhi with the Uranium
Corporation of India Ltd.(UCIL) during the 16th session of
Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission last week.
Rosatom spokesman said that in Elkon project in
Russia's South Yakutia, the Indian stake would be less than 49
per cent as there were already some foreign stakeholders.
He, however, did not identify them.
During Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's India visit in
March earlier this year, Kiriyenko had offered UCIL stake in
Elkon project and setting up nuclear fuel JVs in Russia and
India. PTI VS
MHM