NEWS

India to build exclusive facility for reprocessing

By Onkar Singh in New Delhi
August 03, 2007

India and the United States Friday unveiled the text of the 123 Agreement that will operationalise the civil nuclear cooperation between the two countries.

The 20-page document was put on the ministry of external affair website to avoid questioning from journalists.

The US will have the right to seek return of nuclear fuel and technology but will compensate India promptly for the "fair market value thereof" and the costs incurred as a consequence of such removal.

Washington said it is committed to engage with the Nuclear Suppliers Group to help India to obtain full access to the international fuel market, including reliable, uninterrupted and continual access to fuel supplies from firms in several nations.

The US will join India in seeking to negotiate with the International Atomic Energy Agency an India-specific fuel supply agreement.

The US will support an Indian effort to develop a strategic reserve of nuclear fuel to guard against any disruption of supply over the lifetime of India's reactors.

The civil nuclear deal will remain in force for a 40-year period and can be extended by an additional 10 years.

India will establish a new national facility dedicated to reprocessing safeguarded nuclear material under IAEA safeguards.

In case of disruption of fuel supplies, the US and India would jointly convene a group of friendly nations such as Russia, France and the United Kingdom to pursue measures to restore fuel supply.

With inputs from agencies

Onkar Singh in New Delhi

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