No
compromise on fast breeder reactors: PM
by Pankaj Yadav
New
Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Tuesday
that his government had no plans to comprise the country's
fast-breeder reactor programme through the July 18, 2005
nuclear deal inked with the United States. Making a statement
in Parliament here today on the separation plan for civilian
and military nuclear reactors, Singh said that the FBR programme,
which is presently at a development stage, would not come
under any international safeguards as a result of the nuclear
deal that had been formalised during last week's visit by
U.S.President George W Bush.
Dr Singh also informed Members of Parliament that both New
Delhi and Washington had agreed that there would be no capping
of the country's strategic nuclear programme and that Washington
has assured uninterrupted supply of fuel to Indian reactors
under international safeguards. The Prime Minister informed
the Lower House that as a result of the nuclear agreement,
India would put 14 nuclear reactors (or 65 percent of its
nuclear establishments) under international safeguards by
2014. "There are 22 thermal power reactors in operation
or currently under construction in the country. Fourteen
of these will be placed under safeguards by 2014 in a phased
manner. This would raise the total installed thermal power
capacity in Megawatts under safeguards from 19 percent at
present to 65 percent by 2014," Dr.Singh said. "We are preparing
a list of 14 reactors that would be offered for safeguards
between 2006-14. We have conveyed that India will not accept
safeguards on the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR)
and the Fast Breeder Test Reactor FBTR), both located at
Kalpakkam. The Fast Breeder Programme is at the R and D
stage. This technology will take time to mature and reach
an advanced stage of development," the Prime Minister said.
"India has decided to permanently shut down the CIRUS reactor,
in 2010. The fuel core of the Apsara reactor was purchased
from France, and we are prepared to shift it from its present
location and make it available for placing under safeguards
in 2010," he said. "We are determined that such steps will
not hinder ongoing research and development. Reprocessing
and enrichment capabilities and other facilities associated
with the fuel cycle for our strategic programme have been
kept out of the Separation Plan," he added. "The United
States has also reaffirmed its assurance to create the necessary
conditions for India to have assured and full access to
fuel for such reactors. Under the July 18 Joint Statement,
the United States is committed to seeking agreement from
its Congress to amend domestic laws and to work with friends
and allies to adjust the practices of the Nuclear Suppliers
Group to create the necessary conditions for India to obtain
full access to the international market for nuclear fuel,
including reliable, uninterrupted and continual access to
fuel supplies from firms in several nations," he said. "The
separation plan does not come in the way of the integrity
of our three stage nuclear programme, including the future
use of our thorium reserves. The autonomy of our research
and development activities in the nuclear field will remain
unaffected," Dr.Singh said.
"The
agreement will end India's nuclear isolation," Dr Singh
said. "India has decided to place under safeguards all future
civilian thermal power reactors and civilian breeder reactors,
and the Government of India retains the sole right to determine
such reactors as civilian," Singh said. "This means that
India will not be constrained in any way in building future
nuclear facilities, whether civilian or military, as per
our national requirements," he said. "I believe that the
significance of the July 18, 2005 Statement is the prospect
it offers for ending India's nuclear isolation. It will
open up prospects for cooperation not only with the US but
with countries like Russia, France and other countries with
advanced nuclear capabilities, including those from the
NSG," Singh said. "India will be able to join the international
mainstream and occupy its rightful place among the top countries
of the nuclear community. There would be a quantum jump
in our energy generating capacity with a consequential impact
on our GDP growth. It also ensures India's participation
as a full partner in cutting edge multilateral scientific
effort in the nuclear field such as ITER and Generation
IV Initiative," he added. "At the appropriate stage, India
will approach the IAEA to discuss and fashion an India-specific
safeguards agreement, which will reflect the unique character
of this arrangement," he said. "Since such a safeguards
agreement is yet to be negotiated it will be difficult to
predict its content, but I can assure that we will not accept
any provisions that go beyond the parameters of the July
18, 2005 Statement and the Separation Plan agreed between
India and the United States, on March 2, 2006," Singh said.
Reacting to the statement, the BJP said it appeared the
Government is not prepared to lay the separation plan on
the table of the House, but the Prime Minister retorted
and said that the plan for separation had already been placed
before the House on March 2, leaving the BJP and other opposition
members in a state of confusion.
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