"We want to be a part of the NSG. We are in talks with the member countries as well as China. India believes there will be a positive outcome from its dialogue with China," Atomic Energy Commission of India member Ravi Grover told reporters on the sidelines of India Nuclear Energy Summit here today.
When asked about country's stand if the talks with China do not go through, Grover said, "We are hopeful they will go through. But if they don't, we will continue with our plans in expanding our nuclear power capacities."
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a group of nuclear supplier countries that seek to prevent nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials, equipment and technology that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons.
To prevent India's entry in the elite group, China has stated that NSG's rules disallow a member who has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
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India, however, has already made its position clear that it would not surrender its national interest by signing the accord, but its track record of non-proliferation should entitle it to join the NSG.
"We are currently negotiating on the financing and cost
aspect as we want to provide power from these plants at affordable tariffs. Once we come to a conclusion on this aspect, we will then go ahead with developing the plan for setting up of the project," Grover, also director of Homi Bhabha National Institute, said.
State-run Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) is in talks with French Company EDF that has agreed to build six LWRs (light-water reactors) with a capacity of 1650 MW each.
"Our intent is to arrive at mutual acceptable technical and commercial terms that enable a viable tariff regime," Grover added.