New Delhi
29 March 2010
India and the US have reached an agreement on the arrangements and
procedures for reprocessing of American-origin spent nuclear fuel, it was simultaneously
announced here and in Washington on Monday.
The reprocessing agreement is expected to be signed during Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh's visit to Washington to attend the nuclear security summit on April 12 and 13.
The conclusion of negotiations brings the two countries closer to implementing the civil
nuclear deal signed in October 2008.
India needs to take two more steps before the civil nuclear deal with the US can become
operational: it has to enact civil nuclear liability law and give an assurance on non-
proliferation.
The Ministry of External Affairs said here that the bilateral "123" agreement stipulated
that negotiations on reprocessing were to begin six months after the signing of the 123
Agreement and concluded within a year thereafter. It also mandated India to set up a
dedicated reprocessing facility under IAEA safeguards where the spent nuclear fuel from
the US can be reprocessed.
Accordingly, negotiations on these arrangements and procedures commenced in July
2009 and were concluded during the third and last round of negotiations held here from
March 2 to 4, 2010 between the Department of Atomic Energy team led by Dr RB Grover
and the US delegation led by Richard Stratford, the director of Office of Nuclear Energy
Affairs in the US State Department.
In Washington, the State Department spokesman noted that the reprocessing pact will
facilitate participation by US firms in India's rapidly expanding civil nuclear energy
sector.
Welcoming the development, US Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer said here, "This
important step is part of the great, win-win narrative of the US-India global partnership,
affirming the commitment of our two countries to realise the full potential of our landmark
civil nuclear agreement."
He said that the conclusion of negotiations brings the US one step closer to ensuring
greater access to clean and affordable energy and electricity for all Indians, particularly
those most in need.
The participation of US firms in India's energy sector can create thousands of jobs for
the peoples of both countries, he added.
Setting a positive tone for Prime Minister Singh's visit to Washington next month, Mr
Roemer also said the US recognised that Dr Singh shares US President Barack Obama's
vision for a nuclear weapons-free world.
"We applaud India's outstanding track record on nonproliferation issues, and we look
forward to our continuing cooperation in this area," he noted.
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