CIRUS reactor to be closed, Apsara to be shifted

New Delhi, Mar 7 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said India would close down the CIRUS reactor and shift the fuel core of the Apsara reactor and place it under international safeguards under the nuclear separation plan finalised during US President George W Bush's visit last week.

''India has decided to permanently shut down the CIRUS reactor in 2010. The fuel core of the Apsara reactor was purchased from France, and we are prepared to shift it from its present location and make it available for placing under safeguards in 2010,'' Dr Singh said in a suo motu statement in the Lok Sabha.

At present, both CIRUS and Apsara are located at the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

''We have decided to take these steps rather than allow intrusive inspections in a nuclear facility of high national security importance. We are determined that such steps will not hinder ongoing research and development,'' he said.

Dr Singh said India would identify and offer for International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards 14 thermal power reactors between 2006-14. There are 22 such reactors in operation or currently under construction in the country.

This would raise the total installed thermal power capacity in megawatts under safeguards from 19 per cent at present to 65 per cent by 2014.

''I wish to emphasize that the choice of specific nuclear reactors and the phases in which they would be placed under safeguards is an Indian decision. We are preparing a list of 14 reactors that would be offered for safeguards between 2006-14,'' he said.

UNI SN LS ND1538