Canada-India nuke deal could allow government-owned firm to re-enter Indian market
November 15th, 2008 - 2:06 pm ICT by ANI Ottawa, Nov.15 (ANI): If Canada and India reach an agreement on civil nuclear cooperation, the federally owned AECL Ltd, would be in a position to re-enter the Indian market after 35 years.
According to a report in the Globe and Mail, Canada is currently negotiating a nuclear co-operation agreement with India that would allow AECL to re-establish business ties, despite concerns that India has not signed the international nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The negotiations come after Canada backed a decision by the international Nuclear Suppliers Group to provide an exemption for India that would allow it to develop civilian nuclear power even as it maintains its right to develop weapons without international scrutiny.
Critics complain that the West’’s special treatment of India will spark a new arms race with Pakistan and undermine the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and argue Canada should hold out for stringent conditions in any bilateral accord.
In an interview from India, AECL chief executive Hugh MacDiarmid said the Crown-owned company is hopeful of getting major service work on the country’’s aging fleet of heavy-water reactors, and potentially even the sale of a new reactor.
The AECL group met with senior officials from India’’s Department of Atomic Energy, and from the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd., which has said it intends to build or buy up to 20 reactors over the next 12 years.
AECL’’s own future remains very much in doubt as the federal government is reviewing its ownership and considering selling off the 60-year-old Crown corporation, either entirely or to a minority partner.
Whether it sells AECL or keeps it, Ottawa is keen to put the company on a stronger commercial footing, and that means ensuring it has access to growing emerging markets such as India’’s. (ANI)
- Canada poised to ink nuke cooperation deal with India - May 28, 2009
- Canada joins rush to sell nuclear fuel to India - Jan 23, 2009
- Australia in secret uranium talks with India - Feb 10, 2011
- Japan PM hints at revival of n-deal talks (Lead) (With images) - Dec 28, 2011
- Japan relents, to start n-deal talks with India (Lead) - Jun 25, 2010
- India, Japan begin maiden nuclear talks - Jun 28, 2010
- Japan PM's visit to push stalled n-deal talks - Dec 18, 2011
- Japan to start n-deal talks with India - Jun 25, 2010
- IAEA informed about new N-plant in Pakistan: China - Sep 22, 2010
- US says committed to n-deal, pushes India on liability law (Lead) - Jul 19, 2011
- India, Japan to revive n-talks, step up economic ties (Second Lead) (With images) - Dec 28, 2011
- India, Japan to revive nuclear talks, seal currency swap (Roundup) - Dec 29, 2011
- India examining China-Pakistan n-deal, leaves it to NSG - May 25, 2010
- UN spokesman expresses optimism in U.S. nuclear policy - Apr 07, 2010
- Canada saved the India-US n-deal; it now needs to think beyond (Comment) - Nov 22, 2009
Tags: atomic energy, business ties, civilian nuclear power, crown corporation, globe and mail, heavy water reactors, hugh macdiarmid, india ltd, india nuke deal, international scrutiny, mail canada, new reactor, non proliferation treaty, nuclear cooperation, nuclear non proliferation treaty, nuclear power corporation, nuclear suppliers group, owned company, senior officials, stringent conditions
