N-Bill goes to US Congress

Russia may supply equipment for Kudankulam atomic plant in Tamil Nadu

The Bush administration today introduced a Bill in the US Congress seeking amendment to the Atomic Energy Act to help implement the nuclear cooperation deal with India saying the agreement was a net gain for non proliferation and would bring New Delhi into non proliferation regime.

Meanwhile, reacting to the US reservations to the decision to supply uranium to Tarapur nuclear plant, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov today asserted that it did "not contradict international commitment" and was within "international framework."

Washington has expressed reservations to the move saying such a step should be taken only after India fulfills its obligations under the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.

"We are cooperating on this matter. We have served this issue within international framework and it does not contradict international commitments," said Fradkov, who is in India on a two-day visit, at a business meeting in New Delhi.

On whether Russia was surprised at the US opposition to sale of nuclear fuel to India, he said "We have informed the nuclear suppliers group (NSG) about supply of fuel to Tarapur atomic power station." "The sale of uranium is in the interest of both the countries (India and Russia)," he said.

On the other hand, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns told reporters that "This is a very important agreement for the future of India-America relations and for America." "It is net gain for non-proliferation and it will eventually bring India into NPT regime," he said.

Senator Richard Lugar introduced the Bill in the Senate and Henry Hyde placed it in the House of Representatives.

Referring to India's track record of control on nuclear export, Burns said "India has an excellent record."

Responding to the criticism that the Indo-US civil nuclear agreement or the exception made to India, which is not a signatory to NPT, about nuclear cooperation sets a bad precedent for countries like Iran, he said, "Not a single country has come forward and said that the deal had had an impact on the way they think about Iran."

Russia, meanwhile, is also likely to supply nuclear equipment for Kudankulam atomic plant in Tamil Nadu, besides uranium to Tarapur reactor. Both these issues are expected to be discussed between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Russian counterpart Mikhail Fradkov here tomorrow.

Though the US has expressed reservations to Russian move to supply uranium to Tarapur, India has asserted that it does not violate any international law, including the NSG guidelines. The US has also said that it has no leverage with Australia to secure uranium for India. Australia has 40 per cent of the world's uranium but has a policy of supplying it only to NPT signatories.

The Russian prime minister, who is accompanied by his wife Elina, was warmly received at the Palam technical airport by Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma.

Taking place in the backdrop of Russia's decision to provide uranium to Tarapur plant, the visit is also likely to see the two countries sign a deal with regard to supply of the fuel. The deal would be for supply of 60 metric tonnes of urgently-needed uranium for Tarapur atomic power station.

The Kudankulam atomic power plant is being built in Tamil Nadu with Russian help. As per an agreement of 2001, Russia, besides designing the plant, had committed to supply 90 per cent of the equipment and materials.

The units I and II of the plant are scheduled to be operational by 2007 and 2008 respectively.

India feels that the construction may not be completed by the targeted date and wants Russia to expedite supply of material, official sources said here, adding this issue will be raised during Fradkov's meeting with Singh.

Once completed, the two reactors are expected to generate 2,000 mw of power.