New Delhi
10 November 2007
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Minister of External Affairs
Pranab Mukherjee have reiterated that nuclear energy is an option that cannot be
discounted.
The Prime Minister told RIA Novosti that India needs energy from all sources, including
renewable and nuclear energy. In an interview to the Russian state news agency ahead
of his visit to Moscow, the Prime Minister said: "We have plans to produce 20,000 MW
of nuclear power by 2020. International civil nuclear energy cooperation will enable us to
augment our nuclear energy production." He said that India is grateful for Russia's
ongoing partnership in the construction of nuclear power units in India. During President
Putin's visit to India in January 2007, both countries issued a joint statement on
cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of atomic energy.
Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee, in turn, said at the 42nd foundation day of
the Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA) in New Delhi that India needs "a
multi-pronged strategy, including development of nuclear energy" to reduce her
dependence on hydrocarbons.
The Prime Minister said in his interview that with its immense proven reserves of oil and
gas, Russia is bound to play a critical role in global energy security in the years ahead.
India is currently the fourth largest importer of oil and gas in the world. With India
growing at eight to nine per cent per annum, her energy requirements are increasing
rapidly. "President Putin has defined energy security as not just security of supply but
also security of demand. India can be a major guarantor for energy demand," he said.
The Prime Minister said that Indian and Russian oil and gas companies are engaged in
discussions to expand their cooperation beyond the Sakhalin-1 project. At the same time,
India is seeking to attract international oil companies to bid for exploration blocs and
Russian oil and gas companies are active in India.
Mr Pranab Mukherjee said that nuclear energy is one of the key requirements for the
country's economic growth. "Our national goal is the rapid development of the country.
We aspire for a nation in which the economic growth improves and the polity takes into
account the legitimate aspirations of different sections of society," he said.
Noting that meeting the country's growing energy needs is one of the prime criterion of
development, Mukherjee said that developing nuclear energy is one of the key needs.
"Unfortunately we are dependent only on hydrocarbons to meet our growing energy
needs. We need a multi-pronged strategy, including development of nuclear energy. If
we need to succeed in the international arena and secure ourselves, it would be
essential for us not only have strong defence but also a robust economy," he added.
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