canada, india agree uranium exports

Should this impact PDN at all? Dated 7 Nov 2012

http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Canada-India-conclude-uranium-agreement-ZSNAA?OpenDocument&src=hp39

Canada has concluded negotiations on a deal with India that will allow it to export uranium and nuclear technology for civilian use to the South Asian nation.

A statement from Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office on Tuesday said an administrative agreement had been concluded that would allow the implementation of the Nuclear Cooperation Agreement signed between the two countries in June 2010.

The statement came after talks between Harper and his Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh in New Delhi.

The arrangement was expected to generate millions of dollars in new business and create high-quality new jobs in Canada, the statement quoted Harper as saying.

"The Nuclear Cooperation Agreement ... will allow Canadian firms to export and import controlled nuclear materials, equipment and technology to and from India to facilities under safeguards applied by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)," the statement said.

The statement did not mention any timeline for implementation of the agreement.

After the talks with Harper, Singh said, "We also welcomed the recent progress made towards concluding the modalities for the effective operationalisation of the agreement on civil nuclear energy cooperation."

India has major plans to expand its nuclear power sector and plans to build at least 30 reactors by 2032.

Canada imposed a ban on trade in all nuclear materials and technology to India in 1976 after India tested its first nuclear bomb in 1974, allegedly using material from a Canada-built nuclear reactor.

The Canadian premier is on a six-day visit to India.