New Delhi
31 March 2010
India is tapping Japanese experience of setting up a plant for reprocessing
spent nuclear fuel. Japan constructed the Rokassho reprocessing plant with indigenous
technology in 1992 and its experience in this area would be welcome as India
accelerates its shift to nuclear power.
India has recently concluded negotiations for a reprocessing pact with the US which will
allow setting up of at least two dedicated facilities for reprocessing US-origin spent
nuclear fuel under IAEA safeguards. The US has similar pacts with only two other
countries or organisations: Japan and the European Atomic Energy Community (or
Euratom).
An Indian delegation was in Japan for exploring the possibilities of civil nuclear energy
cooperation, particularly in the area of reprocessing. India and Japan share similarities
in their strategies for the development of nuclear power. Both have adopted a closed fuel
cycle, which entails management of toxic waste by reprocessing the spent nuclear fuel.
Also, they have opted for a comprehensive fuel cycle, from mining to reprocessing.
Shyam Saran, the former special envoy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, was a
member of the Indian delegation that visited Japan. He has said that India would
welcome Japan's participation in its nuclear energy development plans as a full and
valued partner. India-Japan cooperation in this field would also add substance to their
strategic partnership, Mr Saran noted.
The Rokassho plant has built-in IAEA monitoring equipment and other advanced design
features and India can do with Japan's experience for designing a state of the art,
modern reprocessing facility here. Japanese nuclear industry, in turn, can expect a
major boost as India seeks to augment its nuclear power capacity.
Today, India's nuclear power capacity stands at 4,000 MW as compared to Japan's
47,500 MW of installed capacity.
"There is already a mutual familiarity with our respective strengths and expertise and
there is no reason why we cannot expand our cooperation further in this field," Mr Saran
added.
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