Britain lifts ban on civilian nuclear exports to India

UK: Britain has lifted a ban on exporting sensitive nuclear technology to India for civilian projects, it said Monday, after an international accord to relax rules in September.

Since 2002, Britain has refused all export licence applications for so-called "Trigger List" items to India, Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell said, referring to an agreed list of sensitive technology.

"That policy has now changed and we will now consider on a case-by-case basis licence applications for peaceful use of all items" on the list if they are destined for UN-safeguarded civil nuclear facilities in India, he added. Rammell said the ban would remain in force for items destined for "unsafeguarded nuclear fuel cycle or nuclear explosive activities" or where there is a major risk they would end up there.

The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), which controls the export and sale of nuclear technology, agreed at a meeting in Vienna on September 6 to waive its ban on nuclear trading with India. The ban had been in place for 34 years because India will not sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, developed atomic bombs in secret and conducted its first nuclear test in 1974. But the United States pressed for a special waiver for India, saying the deal would allow New Delhi to satisfy its booming economy's thirst for energy while curbing its dependence on fossil fuels linked to climate change.

It would also give the US access to India's lucrative nuclear market, which is worth an estimated 100 billion euros (142 billion dollars) over 15 years.

India has since signed pacts with the US and France and is laying the groundwork for a pact with Russia, set to be finalised when President Dmitry Medvedev visits India next month, under which Russia would build four reactors.

The NSG deal had proved divisive, with India's fellow Asian giant China apparently reluctant to back lifting the ban although it later withdrew its opposition.

LONDON, Tuesday, AFP