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Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Non-proliferation Treaty and India-Japan nuclear deal


Non-proliferation treaty (NPT) of nuclear weapons is an international treaty entered into force in 1970. The main objective of the Treaty is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and technology, and to promote peaceful uses of nuclear energy. A total of 191 states have joined the Treaty and four stats, viz., India, Pakistan, Israel and South Sudan never joined the Treaty. The Treaty recognizes only 5 states as nuclear-weapon states. They are US, Russia, UK, France and China. 

Japan is the only country which suffered attacks by nuclear weapons and is very particular that the treaty is respected by all the countries. India is not a signatory to the NPT and wants to strike a nuclear deal with Japan.

During the negotiations, Japan is putting forward conditions such as: tracking of the nuclear fuel, accounting and tight management of plutonium generated by reprocessing the spent fuel and clauses in the India’s Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLND)-2010.

The clause of Part liability of nuclear plant manufacturers in the event of nuclear accidents in a matter another concern for Japan. Management of nuclear accidents and mitigation measures are very highly cost-intensive and even though the government is planning special insurance to cover the huge expenditure involved, are the insurance companies are able to cope up with the claims? Finally, will Japan will do nuclear business with India which is now a nuclear-armed country and not a signatory to NPT? 

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