Nucleur energy a good option as oil prices touch new high: Pranab

New Delhi, Jun 11 (UNI) Pointing that rising oil prices were detrimental to India's targeted growth External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said nuclear energy was a viable option as renewable sources had limited impact.

Speaking at the book release function of 'The Ultimate Prize:: Oil and Saddam's Iraq' by Ranjit Singh Kalha, Mr Mukherjee said he believed nucleur fuel could be the answer to India's aspiration to achieve ten per cent growth for the next 25 years.

''In my opinion nucleur power was a good option when the question of nation's energy basket expansion arises.'' If India has to meet the challenges of growth we need ten percent growth for next 25 years and for this smooth energy supply has to be maintained, he said.

Stressing on the Iraq situation in context of world peace, the External Affairs Minister urged its neighbours and the international community to strive for ending the war in Iraq, which was tearing it apart.

Calling for international efforts in bringing about lasting solution to the Iraqi imbroglio, Mr Mukherjee said, ''The people of Iraq should decide the future of their natural resources and it would be good if Iraqi crude comes to the market as it would be beneficial not just for the world but also for its own people.'' Reminding India's age-old ties with the Arab world, Mr Mukherjee said India was committed to the reconstruction of Iraq in consonance with multilateral efforts.

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