INDIA - US BILATERAL NUCLEAR AGREEMENT

The so called 123 Deal is yet to be closed to the satisfaction of India. As one can see, there will not be any deal without India retaining the reprocessing rights of the spent fuel. Definitely, the nuclear fuel supplies from US and other Nuclear Fuel Supplier’ Group countries will help India in running the half-starved nuclear power reactors in full steam. But this is only a short-term benefit. And, too many unreasonable conditions put forth by the Nuclear Fuel Suppliers Group such as signing of NPT, end to nuclear tests, acceptance of technical “benchmarks”, etc will break the very backbone of the country’s ambitious nuclear power program, and compromise its security requirements.

It is high time that India should pursue its thorium fuel cycle programs with zeal and be the lead country in the world, and ensure availability of the nuclear power for decades without any unpleasant deals. Nature has bestowed plenty of thorium which can sustain the program, and elevate Indian technological superiority in the nuclear field.