Disagreement over reprocessing of spent fuel

RAJYA SABHA

Article 6(iii) of the Agreement for cooperation between the Government of India and the Government of the United States of America concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, inter-alia, states that India agreed to establish a new national reprocessing facility dedicated to reprocessing safeguarded nuclear material under IAEA safeguards. Article 6(iii) of agreement calls for consultations on arrangements and procedures within one year.

In March 2009 the US responded to India’s request invoking Article 6 (iii) of the Indo-US Agreement on arrangements and procedures confirming that the first round of formal consultations, would commence not later than 3 August 2009 and that final agreement on arrangement and procedures is to be reached not later than 3 August, 2010. The first round of negotiations between India and the United States had taken place on 21-22 July 2009. The latest round of negotiations took place on 21-22 November 2009. The process of negotiations is a continuous process aimed at arriving at an agreement by August 2010.

This was stated by Shri Prithviraj Chavan, the Minister of State (I/C) Science &Technology and Earth Sciences in the Rajya Sabha today.

GG/VK