The system for transport of Canadian Uranium to India finalized b/w Indian and Canada

November 9, 2012

India and Canada developed a mechanism for transport of the Canadian Uranium to India. Thus, India succeeded in clearing the mistrust generated on the Canadian side after the nuclear explosion from India in 1974.
Both the sides were successful inking the agreement on the mechanism of shipment of the Canadian Uranium to India for the first time after 1974. The nuclear cooperation agreement was inked b/w the two nations two years ago but their remained hurdles of mistrust on the Canadian side of how would India use the uranium provided by Canada in its nuclear power plants. After crossing over the hurdles it’s now believed that the shipment of Uranium to India would benefit India as it would bring millions of dollars in the new business and would create quality jobs in India.
What happened in 1974?
The Story of 1974:

On 18 May 1974 at 8:05 a.m. (IST), India conducted its first nuclear test explosion at the long-constructed Indian Army base, Pokhran Test Range at Pokhran municipality, Rajasthan state.
Pokhran-I (Codename Smiling Buddha) nuclear test.
This was the first confirmed nuclear test by a nation outside the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council.
The plutonium used in the test was created at the research reactor CIRUS supplied by Canada in 1960 and using heavy water supplied by the USA.
CIRUS = Canada India Research Utility Services
Thus, Smiling Buddha Test agitated Canada and in turn Canada cut off exchange of nuclear materials and technology with India. Thus, Canada developed mistrust against India and concluded that the test violated a 1971 understanding b/w the two states, and froze nuclear energy assistance for the two heavy water reactors then under construction. However, the USA concluded that the test did not violate any agreement and proceeded with a June 1974 shipment of enriched uranium for the Tarapur reactor.
CIRUS (Canada India Research Utility Services)

A research reactor at the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) in Trombay near Mumbai, India.
Supplied by Canada in 1954
Used heavy water (deuterium) supplied by the USA.
Second oldest reactor in India.
Modeled on the Canadian Chalk River National Research X-perimental (NRX) reactor.
40 MW reactor burns natural uranium fuel, while using heavy water as a moderator.
NOT under IAEA safeguards (which did not exist when the reactor was sold).
In accordance with the Indo-US nuclear accord reached b/w India and US, the reactor was shut down on December 31, 2010.

« Previous Post Next Post »