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Published online 6 January 2009 | Nature | doi:10.1038/457134b
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Companies racing into India's nuclear market
Deal between India and United States spurs investment rush.
Russia, France and other countries are rushing to capitalize on India's nuclear-power programme, four months after the United States pressured the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group to end India's nuclear isolation. Arms-control experts strongly criticize the Indo-US nuclear deal that set off the rush, saying it undermines the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
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It is heartening to observe that many countries are getting involved in India?s nuclear energy programme barely four months after the Bush administration swayed the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group to end the isolation of India. India has proven to be a responsible nuclear power in every manner, hence, the sanctions against her were unjust, thus this move by the Nuclear Suppliers Group was welcome and also overdue. Also in addition India which had the capability of manufacturing nuclear weapons way back in 1960 demonstrated great restraint even this area, even though she was being challenged on her borders. She (India) eventually did demonstrate her nuclear weapons capability in 1974 by exploding a sophisticated Plutonium-239 based device. Also due to the vision of the late Homi Jehangir Bhabha India?s indigenous nuclear energy programme today is the second largest after that of Japan in Asia. At present India (which is advancing rapidly) has great energy needs. Moreover, since the industrialized countries are also looking for stable and large markets thus this deal is of mutual benefit both for India, and the suppliers. I fully agree India with vast reserves of Thorium-232 must continue to pursue the fast breeder technologies (in which India is a leader along with Russia, France and Japan) earnestly. It was again Dr. Bhabha who initiated this programme. Moreover, the 500 MW indigenous Fast Breeder Reactor being built by India should hopefully go critical by 2010. This should give us a further insight as to how to proceed as far as this technology is concerned. Dr. Upinder Fotadar
It is heartening to observe that many countries are getting involved in India?s nuclear energy programme barely four months after the Bush administration swayed the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group to end the isolation of India. India has proven to be a responsible nuclear power in every manner, hence, the sanctions against her were unjust, thus this move by the Nuclear Suppliers Group was welcome and also overdue. Also in addition India which had the capability of manufacturing nuclear weapons way back in 1960 demonstrated great restraint even in this area, though she was being challenged on her borders. She (India) eventually did demonstrate her nuclear weapons capability in 1974 by exploding a sophisticated Plutonium-239 based device. Also due to the vision of the late Homi Jehangir Bhabha India's indigenous nuclear energy programme today is the second largest after that of Japan in Asia. At present India (which is advancing rapidly) has great energy needs. Moreover, since the industrialized countries are also looking for stable and large markets thus this deal is of mutual benefit both for India, and the suppliers. I fully agree India with vast reserves of Thorium-232 must continue to pursue the fast breeder technologies (in which India is a leader along with Russia, France and Japan) earnestly. It was again Dr. Bhabha who initiated this programme. Moreover, the 500 MW indigenous Fast Breeder Reactor being built by India should hopefully go critical by 2010. This should give us a further insight as to how to proceed as far as this technology is concerned. Dr. Upinder Fotadar
Reducing the world's carbon footprint is more important than concerns of nuclear disarmament in today's world. The threat posed by pollution and global warming is more clear and present now than ever before. India and China are definitely two countries who will be using up increasing amounts of hydrocarbons in the future and it is only right that US has taken the lead here to reduce the future demand on hydrocarbons by increasing the energy supply via nuclear energy. Denying nuclear technology to India did not serve the purpose of nuclear disarmament anyway as has been evident.