14 thermal power reactors under IAEA safeguards

New Delhi, Mar 07: India will offer 14 thermal power reactors to be placed under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, but reprocessing, enrichment capabilities and other facilities associated with the fuel cycle for the country's strategic programme will be kept out of the separation plan under the Indo-US agreement.

Making a suo motu statement on discussions on the civil nuclear energy cooperation with the United States the Prime Minister said, ''We are preparing a list of 14 reactors that would be offered for safeguards between 2006-14.'' However, he made it clear that India would not accept safeguards on the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) and the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR), both located at Kalpakkam.

Dr Singh said India had decided to permanently shut down the CIRUS reactor in 2010. The fuel core of the Apsara reactor which was purchased from France would be shifted from its present location at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and made available for placing under safeguards in 2010.

To further guard against any disruption of fuel supplies to India, Dr Singh said the US had agreed to take additional steps like incorporating assurances regarding fuel supply in a bilateral Indo-US agreement on peaceful uses of nuclear energy as negotiable, and said it would not join India in seeking to negotiate with the IAEA an India-specific fuel supply agreement.

UNI

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