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NEW DELHI : India and the United States unveiled on Friday the text of the operating agreement for their controversial civilian nuclear technology deal, with key provisions on fuel supplies and safeguards.
The agreement, which took two years to complete, spelt out how a plan for Washington to share nuclear technology with New Delhi will work, including thorny issues like reprocessing rights and the creation of a fuel reserve for India.
"The United States will support an Indian effort to develop a strategic reserve of nuclear fuel to guard against any disruption of supply over the lifetime of India's reactors," the text said.
The US Congress in December approved legislation allowing US exports of civilian nuclear fuel and technology to India for the first time in 30 years, a move intended to reverse sanctions on the Asian giant for its nuclear tests.
But the operating agreement went one step further, allowing India to reprocess spent fuel under safeguards by the global nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
US lawmakers had expressed concern that this right might allow to India to divert nuclear material to its military program, but the new agreement said that special safeguards will be carved out for the reprocessing facility.
One of the trickiest issues - whether India's unilateral decision not to test nuclear weapons would be made binding - appeared to have been sidestepped.
The US Atomic Energy Act calls for the US president to suspend nuclear cooperation when a country tests an atomic weapon.
The text released Friday made no direct mention of testing, but seemed to leave some wiggle room.
"The parties agree to consider carefully the circumstances that may lead to termination or cessation of cooperation," said the statement.
"They further agree to take into account whether the circumstances that may lead to termination or cessation resulted from a party's serious concern about a changed security environment or as a response to similar actions by other states."
The pact outlined the safeguards India will have to put into place for the reactors that will benefit from the technology.
The deal also addressed Pakistan's concerns, ruling out the use of any transferred nuclear material for nuclear explosive devices or for military purposes.
It runs for an initial term of 40 years but can be terminated by either party before that with a year's notice and has options further 10-year periods.
The whole accord has to win the approval of the US Congress and the Indian parliament.
However, India first has to negotiate a "safeguards" agreement with the IAEA and gain the support of the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group.
The deal could open up US$100 billion of opportunities for American businesses, according to the US Chamber of Commerce. - AFP/ch
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