Russia offers India role in uranium enrichment project

Russia is reported to have offered India the option of participating in a uranium enrichment project that would produce only low-enriched uranium and cannot be diverted for building nuclear weapons. Participation in the International Uranium Enrichment Centre (IUEC) at Angarsk, Siberia will, however, help the country secure guaranteed fuel supplies in the future.

The offer has been made at an investment summit with a visiting Indian delegation to Russia, headed by the Atomic Energy Commission chairman Anil Kakodkar, on 9 April, reports said.

The offer of investment possibilities for India in the IUEC, which is being set up under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) supervision, will boost India's energy security efforts, sources said.

The investment offer was made in lieu of India paying for nuclear fuel to be supplied to the Russia-built Koodankulam light water reactor units and to existing Indian pressurised heavy water reactor units that are to be fuelled by Russian firm TVEL under a bilateral pact.

The enrichment centre is being set up in collaboration with countries such as Kazakhstan, under the supervision of the nuclear watchdog, at the Angarsk Electrolysis Chemical Plant in Eastern Siberia.

The participation by India in the project, director of Angarsk Electrolysis Chemical Plant Alexander Belousovhe said, would tackle the problem of guaranteed nuclear fuel supplies to Indian nuclear sector, according to sources.

The two sides have also discussed proposals regarding joint fundamental research, reports said, adding,  chairman and MD of Nuclear Power Corporation SK Jain and Uranium Corporation of India chief R Gupta were also part of the Indian delegation.