Efforts on to acquire uranium assets abroad: Plan panel

"Efforts to conclude agreements of cooperation with several other countries such as Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Namibia to enable import of uranium and acquire uranium assets are at various stages of progress," the panel said.
This was mentioned in a document on Integrated Energy Policy (IEP) placed before the meeting of the Full Planning Commission chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today.
Negotiations with Kazakhstan on supply of natural uranium have reached an "advanced stage", it stated.
India yesterday signed an agreement with Namibia on cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The pact is an umbrella agreement that includes sale of uranium to India.
The document on IEP noted that the Department of Atomic Energy has signed Memoranda of Understanding, fuel supply agreements and cooperation pacts with the US, France and Russia.
It noted that MoUs have been signed by the state-run Nuclear Power Corporation with Westinghouse Electric Company and General Electric for setting up 1100 MW and 1300 MW reactors respectively in the country.

An MoU has been signed by NPCIL with Areva of France for supply of two units of 1650 MW nuclear power plants together with fuel and other services, the IEP document said.
India has signed an agreement of cooperation with Russia in the construction of additional nuclear power plants at Kudankulam as well as at new sites in the country.
The Department of Atomic Energy has signed a contract with Areva in December last year for supply of 300 tons uranium concentrates. Full supply of this material has been received from the French company, the document said.
DAE has also signed contracts for long-term supply of 2000 tons of natural uranium pellets with TVEL, a joint stock company in Russia, it said.
India has 4120 MW of installed capacity of nuclear power plants. Three more 220 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors, two 1000 MW light water reactors and one 500 MW prototype fast breeder reactor are currently under construction.
"When completed, this would take nuclear power capacity to 7280 MW," it said, adding that with another eight PHWRs, the programme of reaching a capacity of 10,000 MW based on PHWRs would be realised.
In another presentation before the Prime Minister, it was stated that involvement of private sector in nuclear power development would need amendment in Atomic Energy Act.
The current Act enables limited participation of the private sector, it said.