The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Pact with U.S. will pave way for easy access to uranium, says BARC director

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 21, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Pact with U.S. will pave way for easy access to uranium, says BARC director

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Srikumar Banerjee on Sunday said that India needed uranium from other countries for its nuclear reactors to generate power. The recent agreement between India and the U.S. would pave the way for easy access to uranium.

Mr. Banerjee said the county had to go a long way in attaining self-sufficiency in meeting the demand for electricity, which was about 600 KWH (Kilo Watt Hours) per annum. The reactors needed uranium from external sources. The agreement would pave the way for easy access to uranium.

Mr. Banerjee was delivering a talk on "Nuclear energy programme in India and its social impact" organised by Samvaada.

He said non-availability of uranium was the main obstacle in nuclear power generation in the country. Countries such as France procured uranium readily from the international market.

Since India was not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, it had been embargoed from receiving any supply or assistance from the Nuclear Suppliers' Group.

He said with international cooperation, India could get access to global nuclear power technology, which would help in setting up pressurised heavy water reactors and fast breeder reactors. Work was on preparing advanced heavy water reactors, he added.

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