Jan. 30 – After the U.S., France and Russia, Canada and the UK plan to sign nuclear deals with India. Officials from the nuclear power industry of the United Kingdom and Canada lead by their high-profile ministers – British secretary of state for business, enterprise and regulatory reform Peter Mandelson and Canadian minister of international Trade Stockwell Day were in India last week to discuss the nuclear deal.
Energy deficient India has indicated that it needs foreign economic assistance to achieve its aim of building 18-20 nuclear reactors worth an estimated US$27 billion. Industry insiders believe the country will need a total investment of US$150 billion over the next 15 years to help bridge an energy shortfall.
About 20 percent of the UK’s energy needs are being met with nuclear energy; however the country hasn’t built any nuclear plants over the last 20 years. It has nonetheless recently initiated policy changes and is planning on building more plants. The UK currently imports nuclear reactors from France, the U.S. or Russia.
Canada a major uranium producer recently lifted a ban on trade in nuclear products with India after New Delhi signed the nuclear deal with the United States last October. Canadian firms including federally owned Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd, Cameco Corp and SNC-Lavalin are all interested in signing deals with Indian firms to build nuclear reactors and supply uranium.
