ID :
72160
Sat, 07/25/2009 - 20:37
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/72160
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India, US complete first round of talks on reprocessing fuel
Mumbai, Jul 25 (PTI) India and the US have completed
first round of consultations on 'arrangements and procedures'
on reprocessing of spent fuel of American origin on Indian
soil, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) sources said Saturday.
The consultations, which took place in Vienna, are
considered as a significant step to further the interaction at
commercial level and for the operationalisation of the Indo-US
nuclear deal, they said.
The first round of talks which began early this week
ended on Thursday and the process is likely to be finished in
two months.
"We expect the consultations to be over in two months so
that the implementation of 123 agreement can start within the
timeframe given in the agreement," a top official of DAE told
PTI.
"The consultations were strictly based on Article 6 (III)
of the 123 agreement between India and US and few more
meetings are expected to take place," he said.
The five-member Indian delegation was led by Ravi B
Grover, the Director of DAE Strategic Planning Group (SPG) and
also the Director of the Knowledge Management Group.
Washington's point man for nuclear negotiations with
India Richard Stratford, who is the Director of the Office of
Nuclear Energy Affairs in the State Department, headed the US
team.
According to the agreement, to bring reprocessing rights
into effect, India has to establish a new national facility
dedicated to reprocessing safeguarded nuclear material under
the safeguards of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Also, India has to reach an agreement with the US on
'arrangements and procedures' under which such reprocessing
will take place in this new facility.
"We should have upfront sovereign rights in whatever we
do including reprocessing," another DAE official said.
Meanwhile, the Indo-US business group said in a
communication that both the countries must swiftly conclude a
bilateral agreement to grant India prior consent to reprocess
spent fuel of US origin.
Fearing that countries like France and Russia are going
ahead in business with India, the group said, the conclusion
of a reprocessing agreement should not delay Indian contracts
with US commercial nuclear suppliers.
The business group on nuclear commerce is keen that India
completes procedures for Liability Law. India promised to
adopt a liability law in its 'Letter of Intent' in September
2008 and the private-sector nuclear industry in India and the
US are awaiting fulfillment of the promise.
Talks between two US energy majors-- Westinghouse-Toshiba
and GE-Hitachi and India's Nuclear Power Corporation-- on
various business aspects are on and the Indian government is
in the process of giving clearance to two coastal sites for
the US companies to set up nuclear reactors in the country.
The two sites zeroed by NPCIL are Shrikulam district in
coastal southwestern state Andhra Pradesh and near Alang in
western state Gujarat. PTI
first round of consultations on 'arrangements and procedures'
on reprocessing of spent fuel of American origin on Indian
soil, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) sources said Saturday.
The consultations, which took place in Vienna, are
considered as a significant step to further the interaction at
commercial level and for the operationalisation of the Indo-US
nuclear deal, they said.
The first round of talks which began early this week
ended on Thursday and the process is likely to be finished in
two months.
"We expect the consultations to be over in two months so
that the implementation of 123 agreement can start within the
timeframe given in the agreement," a top official of DAE told
PTI.
"The consultations were strictly based on Article 6 (III)
of the 123 agreement between India and US and few more
meetings are expected to take place," he said.
The five-member Indian delegation was led by Ravi B
Grover, the Director of DAE Strategic Planning Group (SPG) and
also the Director of the Knowledge Management Group.
Washington's point man for nuclear negotiations with
India Richard Stratford, who is the Director of the Office of
Nuclear Energy Affairs in the State Department, headed the US
team.
According to the agreement, to bring reprocessing rights
into effect, India has to establish a new national facility
dedicated to reprocessing safeguarded nuclear material under
the safeguards of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Also, India has to reach an agreement with the US on
'arrangements and procedures' under which such reprocessing
will take place in this new facility.
"We should have upfront sovereign rights in whatever we
do including reprocessing," another DAE official said.
Meanwhile, the Indo-US business group said in a
communication that both the countries must swiftly conclude a
bilateral agreement to grant India prior consent to reprocess
spent fuel of US origin.
Fearing that countries like France and Russia are going
ahead in business with India, the group said, the conclusion
of a reprocessing agreement should not delay Indian contracts
with US commercial nuclear suppliers.
The business group on nuclear commerce is keen that India
completes procedures for Liability Law. India promised to
adopt a liability law in its 'Letter of Intent' in September
2008 and the private-sector nuclear industry in India and the
US are awaiting fulfillment of the promise.
Talks between two US energy majors-- Westinghouse-Toshiba
and GE-Hitachi and India's Nuclear Power Corporation-- on
various business aspects are on and the Indian government is
in the process of giving clearance to two coastal sites for
the US companies to set up nuclear reactors in the country.
The two sites zeroed by NPCIL are Shrikulam district in
coastal southwestern state Andhra Pradesh and near Alang in
western state Gujarat. PTI
