Replies

Fuel supply: Russia echoes India *SNS and Agencies*

NEW DELHI, March 16. — A day after India said that its fuel deal with Russia did not violate international guidelines, the Russian premier, Mr Mikhail Fradkov, aired similar views here. Answering a query at a business conference this evening, Mr Fradkov said that Russian supply of nuclear fuel to India “does not contradict international commitments”. “We informed the Nuclear Suppliers Group of us supplying fuel to the Tarapur power plant,” said Mr Fradkov, who arrived this evening on a two-day visit to India. Civilian nuclear energy tops the agenda of the Russian Prime Minister, who is accompanied by wife Elina. The couple was warmly received at Palam Technical Airport by the minister of state for external affairs, Mr Anand Sharma. The visit, which takes place in the wake of Russia’s decision to supply uranium to the Tarapur plant, is likely to culminate in the two countries signing a fuel supply deal.		The Kudankulam Atomic Power plant is being built in Tamil Nadu with Russian help. According to a 2001 agreement, Russia, besides designing the plant, is committed to supplying 90 per cent of the equipment and material. The units I and II of the plant are scheduled to be operational by 2007 and 2008, respectively. India feels that the construction may not be completed on schedule and wants Russia to expedite supply of material, an official source said here, adding, the request could be made during Mr Fradkov’s meeting with Dr Manmohan Singh. Once commissioned, the two reactors are expected to generate 2,000 MW of power.

I doubt China ever has or ever will supply nuclear fuel to India. And moreover in 1998 India conducted nuclear tests and the government of the day cleary said that those tests were directed against China. The former Defense Minister George Fernandez even went to the extent of calling China as "enemy number one". I doubt China would give us nuclear fuel only two years later.

BTW China is a stable supplier of nuclear fuel to Kahuta and Chasma nuclear rectors in Pakistan and they have no safeguards whatsoever.