The Hindu : International / India & World : India-specific safeguard mechanism unlikely

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Tuesday, Sep 25, 2007
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International - India & World

India-specific safeguard mechanism unlikely

Safeguards applicable to future civilian nuclear plants
India can benefit from reactor-specific and utility-specific mechanism

Vienna: All future Indian nuclear plants under the civilian domain could be placed under the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) safeguards mechanism that could be on a par with that for the five declared nuclear powers.

Without creating India-specific safeguards, IAEA sources indicated that in all probability, they could be placed under the Agency’s safeguards system of 1965, as provisionally extended in 1966 and 1968.

That means, India can benefit from the safeguards mechanism which are reactor-specific and utility-specific and would be closer to the five nuclear weapon (P-5) countries and not as a non-weapon state (country), the sources told PTI.

This could be essentially on the same lines as that of the safeguards arrangement made between India and IAEA for two units of the Tarapur atomic power plant set up in 1969 and two units in Rajasthan in 1971.

“The provisionally extended safeguards system of 1966 is a revised system with additional provisions for reprocessing plants,” the sources said.

“The extended safeguards system of 1968 is a revised system with further additional provisions for safeguarded nuclear material in conversion plants and fabrication plants,” the sources added.

The safeguards plan for India also makes it clear that New Delhi will not have to sign any Additional Protocol which makes safeguards applicable to all facilities.

During the 51st General Conference of IAEA which concluded last week there was media hype in India about Indian Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar talking to IAEA Director General Dr. Mohammed ElBaradei on the sidelines inspite of political opposition at home.

However, Mr. Kakodkar denied having any formal talks with ElBaradei. — PTI

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