9 Oct (NucNet): US president George Bush yesterday signed into law the US-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, giving approval for US companies such to sell nuclear fuel and technology to India for the first time in three decades.
The agreement – officially known as the United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act – lets US nuclear suppliers resume trade with the world’s largest democracy after being barred when India tested an atomic bomb 34 years ago. Congress last week approved the agreement.
Mr Bush said that by undertaking new cooperation on civil nuclear energy, India will be able to count on a reliable fuel supply for its civilian reactors, meet the energy demands of its people, and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.
“For our part, the United States will gain access to a growing market for civilian nuclear technologies and materials that will help American businesses create more jobs for our people here at home.”
The agreement will remain in force for at least 40 years. Under the terms of the agreement, India will establish a new national reprocessing facility for reprocessing safeguarded nuclear material under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. Natural or low-enriched uranium may be transferred for use as fuel in reactor experiments and in reactors, for conversion or fabrication.
In September 2008, the Nuclear Suppliers Group agreed to adjust its guidelines to allow full civil nuclear cooperation between India and the international community.
US law had previously prohibited nuclear cooperation with any of the three states that have not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty: India, Pakistan and Israel.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
US And India Release Text Of Civil Cooperation Agreement (World Nuclear Review No. 31, 3 August 2007)
US-India Nuclear Deal Moves Step Closer (News in Brief No. 114, 29 September 2008)
