The Hindu : Front Page : Talks with IAEA soon, says Kakodkar

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Monday, Sep 24, 2007
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Talks with IAEA soon, says Kakodkar

“Convincing the NSG members to have nuclear trade with India is going to be tough”

Leaders see India as the most advanced nation in nuclear fuel cycle technology
Greater awareness of role of nuclear power in meeting global needs

Vienna: India will hold talks with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) “as soon as possible” on an India-specific accord to help implement the civil nuclear deal with the United States, Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar has said.

He replied in the negative when asked if he had during his stay here not discussed the India-specific agreement with the IAEA.

Asked when these talks can take place, Mr. Kakodkar told NDTV: “we hope that it can happen soon.”

“We had on previous occasions informal discussions with the IAEA both here in Vienna as well as in Delhi. We have a clear idea about the approach which one needs to follow and we will pick up the discussion,” he said wrapping up his visit during which he attended the international nuclear watchdog’s general conference.

To a question if he has any timeframe in mind in holding the talks with the IAEA, Mr. Kakodkar said: “well, we will obviously do it as soon as possible. But let us see.”

He admitted that convincing the 45 member-countries of Nuclear Suppliers Group to have nuclear trade with India was going to be a tough exercise, but said the United States would have to play a role in persuading those states.

At the same time, India is talking “to people essentially to convey to them the importance of India being able to get into the civil nuclear commerce because we feel that it is also in the larger global interest,” Mr. Kakodkar said.

Recognition for India

Mr. Kakodkar told PTI on Sunday that India received recognition as the most advanced nation in nuclear fuel cycle technology at the IAEA meet and there was greater awareness of the “larger role” of nuclear power in meeting global energy needs.

Mr. Kakodkar remained mum on whether there were any discussions with the IAEA on the India-specific safeguards agreement, a pre-requisite for the operationalisation of the India-U.S. civil nuclear deal.

“I will not say anything on that,” Mr. Kakodkar said shortly before his departure when asked about his informal discussions with IAEA Director-General Mohammed ElBaradei.

India also has to secure changes in the guidelines of the NSG to gain access to nuclear commerce.

Describing the week-long IAEA meet as “successful,” Mr. Kakodkar said it was so particularly this year because of the “greater awareness of the larger role of nuclear energy in meeting the global energy needs.”

He said the meet was important for several reasons “particularly India’s recognition as the most advanced nation in nuclear fuel cycle technology by the world leaders.”

During the two-day scientific meet, an integral part of the General Conference of the IAEA that was attended by about 500 participants, the importance of ‘closed nuclear fuel cycle’ was widely discussed by scientists as also India’s expertise in the field.

Experts were curious to know about India’s thorium-based power plant and fast-breeder reactors.

“We were also the first to pilot a resolution on the development and deployment of Small and Medium Reactors (SMR) supported by several countries and passed unanimously at the general conference,” Mr. Kakodkar said.

Making a strong pitch for international nuclear energy cooperation with India at the forum, Mr. Kakodkar, while addressing the forum, made it clear that nuclear power was an “inevitable option” and pressed for “reformation” of global thinking on it.

He favoured a closed fuel cycle to reduce the risk of proliferation of fissile material, a proposal backed by several countries. — PTI

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