The Hindu : Front Page : Russian fuel for Tarapur ruled out

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 06, 2004

Front Page

Front Page

Russian fuel for Tarapur ruled out

By Amit Baruah & R. Ramachandran

NEW DELHI, DEC. 5. Russia, which provided 50 tonnes of enriched uranium to keep the Tarapur nuclear power plant going in 2001, has expressed its inability to supply much-needed nuclear fuel again for the plant.

Speaking to The Hindu in New Delhi, Alexander Yuryevich Rumyantsev, Director of the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency, pointed out that Russia was bound by the guidelines of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), which prevented it from providing the fuel.

He scotched speculation that Russia would be providing two additional 1,000 MW reactors for the Koodankulam nuclear plant that is under construction. Again, Mr. Rumyantsev said, it was Russia's NSG commitments that kept it from expanding nuclear cooperation with India.

On Tarapur, when reminded that the Russian side was able to supply fuel for the nuclear plant in 2001, despite the fact that it was bound by NSG guidelines, he said it was provided for "safety" reasons — in an extreme case — and could not form part of "usual cooperation."

And what was the extreme case then? "India at that time had no fuel. This was the extreme case," he replied. "You know there was a very negative reaction from the NSG."

Mr. Rumyantsev indicated that the 2001 action was part of an understanding with the NSG that fuel would not be supplied again. Mr. Rumyantsev was aware that even now Tarapur was encountering the same problem it faced in 2001. "Yes, I know. This is the pain of my soul. But what can we do?"

He stated categorically that more enriched uranium would not be coming to India from Russia for Tarapur. According to him, 50 tonnes of enriched uranium were required to keep the power plant going.

Asked what was the response to Russia's 2000 proposal to allow India to enter the NSG as a nuclear weapons' state or an associate member, Mr. Rumyantsev answered that the Group came up with a very negative response.

Although India created its own nuclear weapons, Russia was following its international obligations. "But, I am sure this question will be solved — India will be a member of the nuclear club." If India were to bring all its nuclear facilities under the safeguards regime of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), that is, accept full-scope safeguards, "it will be all right," Mr. Rumyantsev said. "But, you know, India cannot show all facilities," he added.

A.Q. Khan case

Describing the A.Q. Khan-led smuggling ring as a "nuclear black market," Mr. Rumyantsev, however, said Dr. Khan was "no longer active." He said intelligence officers of several countries were involved in shutting down the Khan operation.

Pointing out that the Khan ring was a violation of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT), he said the Russian reaction to this was extremely negative. "In reality, this is a black market of nuclear technology and, most probably, nuclear materials."

He stressed that Moscow was critical of the actions of Pakistan. "You know that [the] Pakistani Government took some action against Dr. Khan and stopped this activity and proliferation of centrifuge machines."

Proliferation cases

Asked about the "different" responses to nuclear proliferation charges relating to North Korea, Libya, Pakistan, and Iran, the Director, who came to India as part of the Russian President, Vladmir Putin's delegation, agreed that there were "hot questions" in North Korea and Libya. "I did not notice any weapons' programme in Iran. I know Iranian facilities and we are building a nuclear power plant [in that country]. We are acquainted with the facilities of Iranian nuclear industry. We did not see the ... fingerprints of the nuclear programme."

Mr. Rumyantsev said the NPT was a formal document and "we have no right to decide in our mind that this country is good and this country is bad." The NPT rules are valid for all countries.

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