Indo-Canadian nuclear deal soon: Montek Ahluwalia

Toronto, Apr 17 (PTI) After sealing nuclear fuel supply
deals with Russia and France, India is "very close" to inking
a similar agreement with Canada.

With New Delhi planning to import reactors upto 20,000
MW of capacity in next 10 years, it has laid down a road map
for strategic partnership with Ottawa and is "very close" to
signing a nuclear cooperation agreement, Montek Singh
Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of India's Planning Commission said
here.

"This offers a major market opportunity to Canadian
firms to sell nuclear reactors, fuel and technology for
safeguarded nuclear reactors but they have to compete with
France, the US, Russia and Australia," Ahluwalia said at a
three-day Indo-Canada Energy Conference.

"Both countries are very close to signing a bilateral
nuclear cooperation agreement. A joint study group is working
on Free Trade Agreement," Ahluwalia said.

Commending Canada's efforts at the nuclear supply club,
Ahluwalia said, India is committed to restart closer nuclear
cooperation with the country.

He also invited Canadian help in providing clean coal
technology, non-renewable energy sources like solar and wind
energy to help improve India's energy security.

Canadian Minister for Natural Resources Lisa Raitt said
Canada, which is the fifth largest producer of energy, was
committed to strengthening energy relations with India and
"both countries are working a bilateral nuclear cooperation
agreement".

"India's strategic plan is to import nuclear reactors
that could generate 20,000 MW of power based on imported
uranium," Ahluwalia said.

"Plutonium generated from these reactors would be fed
into fast breeder reactors that could end up generating more
plutonium.

"Once India has sufficient plutonium that would put into
thorium based reactors to generate power, India has large
source of thorium that can only be used if the country has
sufficient plutonium," he said, while outlining India's
strategic plan for its energy security.

Later, Ahluwalia told newsmen that India was actively
involved in two working groups set up by G-20 countries, which
would lay down global standards for international financial
security.

Top executives of over 100 Canadian companies and top
policy makers and energy sector companies from India are
participating in the three-day conference.

Earlier, former President Abdul Kalam addressed the
delegates through video conferencing and said India and Canada
could work together and realign themselves in solar, wind,
nuclear and bio-fuels, municipal waste management areas.

S R Gavai, the Indian High Commissioner said alleviation
of poverty was a major challenge for India and Canada could
play an important role in strengthening its energy security.
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