New Delhi, May 11: India could soon receive up to
2500 tonnes of uranium from Kazakhstan as an agreement in this
regard is set to be signed between the two sides by the
month-end.
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and
Kazatomprom are holding talks and a contract for supply of
uranium is expected to be signed by the end of this month,
Kazakh Ambassador Kairat Umarov told PTI here.
The fuel will be meant for the existing nuclear plants
that are under IAEA safeguards, he said.
On the quantity of uranium to be supplied under the
contract, Umarov said he was not aware as the companies were
dealing with the issue directly.
Sources, however, said the discussions centred around
supply of 2500 tonnes, a quantity which India wanted for
running its reactors to full capacity.
Incidentally, China recently signed an agreement with
Kazakhstan, one of the largest producers of uranium, for
supply of 23000 tonnes of the nuclear fuel till 2020.
China is expanding its nuclear industry and in this
regard is building 50 nuclear power stations.
Umarov expressed hope that the first contract between
the companies of India and Kazakhstan would lay foundation for
to long-term association.
Bureau Report
