3 January 2006
Top Stories
Russia okays Tarapur fuel
- By Seema Mustafa
New Delhi, Jan. 2: Russia has reportedly agreed to release low-enriched uranium for the Tarapur nuclear plant in the first half of this year although last-minute negotiations are still on to clinch the deal. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had raised the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin in December during his visit to Moscow, and discussions had been held between the secretary, department of atomic energy, Mr Anil Kokodkar, and the chief of Russia's Federal Atomic Energy Agency, Mr Sergei Kiriyenko. A positive decision to this effect is expected by March.
The Tarapur plant is at present functioning on what experts describe as a blend of India MOX fuel and Russia's LEU fuel supply that had last been released in 2001 in the face of strong criticism from the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Since then, Moscow had taken the position that it could not release any more fuel without required clearances from the NSG, which is however seen to be more favourable since the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal. Russia is particularly keen to benefit from the more cordial climate created by India's willingness to bring a substantial part of its nuclear programme under IAEA safeguards, with the release of a fresh batch of fuel for Tarapur set to become the first indication of renewed nuclear cooperation between the two countries.
Mr Kiriyenko was quoted by Russian newspapers as saying that Russia "highly values India's impeccable track record in non-proliferation, as well as its intention to extend IAEA safeguards on the nuclear fuel cycle." A Rosatom (Russian agency for nuclear energy) press release in December stated that Mr Kiriyenko had "proposed to expand nuclear cooperation with India, which should not be limited to the construction of two units of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant." The construction of additional nuclear reactors by Russia was reportedly agreed on during Dr Singh's visit, with at least two more reactors, according to sources, now under discussion.
India and Russia have also agreed to discuss future cooperation in the development of fourth and fifth generation nuclear reactors. Moscow, which is keen to remain on board in this crucial sector, has been extending tacit support for the India-US civilian nuclear agreement, with the sources claiming that US support would help clear the way for enhanced cooperation between Russia and India as well.
Tarapur has remained a top priority for the Indian government with the stockpile of fuel running very low. Russia's initial refusal to release more fuel had come as a major setback but the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Bodies) Act 2005, as well as the current nuclear agreement with the United States, has contributed to a rethink on this issue. President Putin had assured Dr Singh earlier last year that he would look into the issue, with the green signal having been given during the December visit.
It might be recalled that after India's 1998 nuclear tests, Russia had twice supplied fuel for the Tarapur nuclear plants. The last supply was in 1991, with Moscow coming under severe pressure from the Nuclear Suppliers Group. India had been told then that further supplies of fuel would not be possible unless India accepted IAEA inspections over its entire nuclear programme. The decision now, in the wake of the nuclear agreement with the US, to separate military and civilian nuclear facilities and bring the latter under IAEA safeguards has eased the pressure, with the US expected to soft-pedal objections to New Delhi's efforts to keep the Tarapur nuclear plant running. President Putin has made it clear that he was in no mood to risk his relations with the NSG and that Russia's "national interests" were as important as India's in their bilateral relations.