INDIA has signed a civilian nuclear agreement with Britain in New Delhi, similar to one it had signed earlier with seven other countries such as the US, France and Russia. The agreement allows it to retain its strategic weapons programme and to remain outside the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.
Signed jointly yesterday by India’s atomic energy commission chairman, Srikumar Bannerjee, and the British high commissioner to India, Richard Stagg, the agreement allows the two to conduct nuclear commerce. Britain’s chief scientific adviser John Beddington was also at the ceremony.
“It is a general umbrella agreement on civil nuclear co-operation” a department of atomic energy official said.
It is expected to provide a legal framework for British companies to export nuclear components and products and to become part of the supply chain for Indian civilian atomic reactors.
Britain’s nuclear industry, which annually exports equipment worth more than £700 million (€798 million), has long been eager to confirm this pact with India, but procedural delays and minor disagreements over its text delayed it.
India was opposed to any reference to either non-proliferation or the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty – which it has not signed – but matters were eventually resolved in its favour, official sources said.
The agreement was expected to be signed last December during business secretary Peter Mandelson’s visit to Delhi. However, negotiations were finalised earlier this month during federal commerce minister Anand Sharma’s visit to London.
India has also signed civil atomic co-operation agreements with France, the United States, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Argentina and Namibia. Recently it finalised a civil nuclear co-operation deal with Canada which is likely to be signed soon.
The US Congress approved in September 2008 the controversial pact permitting India to trade in nuclear fuel and equipment in return for the facilitation of international inspections of 14 of its 22 atomic reactors.
The remaining eight military reactors and associated facilities would not be subject to International Atomic Energy Agency examination.
India conducted its first underground nuclear test in 1974 followed by five more 24 years later. It has been building its strategic deterrence based on a no-first use doctrine.