N-energy: Prez to nudge Namibia
NEW Delhi, June 10, 2016, DHNS:
If India has been left behind China in sourcing uranium from Africa, it is for the fact that it did not sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
India’s “non-NPT” status has not only been making it difficult for it to get a seat in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, but also stands in the way of New Delhi sourcing uranium from Namibia and other countries in Africa.
President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to Namibia next week is likely to provide New Delhi yet another opportunity to nudge the government of the Southwest African nation to start exporting uranium to India. India and Namibia signed the Agreement for Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy in August 2009. The agreement was intended to provide the framework for India to import uranium from Namibia.
But the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty or the Pelindaba Treaty restricted Namibia from going ahead for commercial implementation of the agreement and supplying uranium to India. The Pelindaba Treaty, which was adopted in 1996 and came into effect in July 2009, prohibits its signatories across Africa from entering into nuclear commerce with the countries that did not sign the NPT and do not allow “full-scope safeguards” by the International Atomic Energy Agency on their nuclear materials and facilities.
“We have raised this issue with Namibia and we would again try and impress upon them that India is a very good market for the uranium,” said Secretary (Economic Relations) at the MEA, Amar Sinha.
India’s “non-NPT” status has not only been making it difficult for it to get a seat in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, but also stands in the way of New Delhi sourcing uranium from Namibia and other countries in Africa.
President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to Namibia next week is likely to provide New Delhi yet another opportunity to nudge the government of the Southwest African nation to start exporting uranium to India. India and Namibia signed the Agreement for Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy in August 2009. The agreement was intended to provide the framework for India to import uranium from Namibia.
But the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty or the Pelindaba Treaty restricted Namibia from going ahead for commercial implementation of the agreement and supplying uranium to India. The Pelindaba Treaty, which was adopted in 1996 and came into effect in July 2009, prohibits its signatories across Africa from entering into nuclear commerce with the countries that did not sign the NPT and do not allow “full-scope safeguards” by the International Atomic Energy Agency on their nuclear materials and facilities.
“We have raised this issue with Namibia and we would again try and impress upon them that India is a very good market for the uranium,” said Secretary (Economic Relations) at the MEA, Amar Sinha.
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