Although the Indo-US civil nuclear agreement is expected to spawn a huge market for US companies in India in the field of nuclear technology, reactors and fuel, Washington has said the nuclear commerce has to go on commercial lines.
Making the US position clear, the US Ambassador to India, David C Mulford, said, “Under the US law, the government cannot compel companies to offer technology or supply fuel.’’ He said the companies would have to do business in India along commercial lines.
He was referring to an apprehension in some quarters about President George Bush’s statement that his administration had made a “political” but not “legally-binding” commitment on fuel supplies to India.
“This issue is being blown out of proportion in India,’’ he said adding every commitment in the agreement would be adhered to.
On not giving enrichment and reprocessing (ENR) technologies to India, Mulford said it was prohibited under the US law. He, however, clarified that India had already achieved competence in reprocessing nuclear fuel. Besides, he said, the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was also working towards banning the transfer of ENR technologies.
Mulford, who held an impromptu celebration at his residence after the US Congress yesterday cleared the agreement, said, “Nuclear commerce between India and the US will begin only after New Delhi signs the (safeguards) agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’’
Calling the US Congress vote in favour of the 123 Agreement a “historic occasion’’, Mulford said the Congress took it up amid an unprecedented financial crisis and the forthcoming presidential election. “This is an indicator of India’s importance,’’ he said.
Mulford said the agreement would no doubt create a huge market for the US companies, but economic benefits were not the sole aim of the deal when President George Bush first visualised it.
He said the deal was also aimed at empowering India — which has one-sixth of the world’s population — to generate energy for its fast-growing economy and also have a positive impact on global environment in the long run.
