The International Atomic Energy Agency's governing board approved an enhanced nuclear inspections agreement for India yesterday, overcoming another hurdle in New Delhi's quest to legally purchase nuclear technology on the commercial market, Reuters reported (see GSN, Feb. 19).
(Mar. 4) -
A new agreement would enable greater international scrutiny of the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station and India’s other civilian nuclear sites (Indian Atomic Energy Department photo).
The board approved a draft Additional Protocol to the nation's existing nuclear safeguards agreement, which was signed just last month (see GSN, Feb. 3). For most nations, the protocol is intended to give agency inspectors extra tools to detect the diversion of nuclear materials to illicit weapon efforts. India, however, has an acknowledged nuclear-weapon program, so the protocol has been somewhat watered down compared to those for non-nuclear nations, Reuters reported.
India has now achieved all the major international trade rule modifications that it needs to begin expanding its civilian nuclear sector through foreign contracts. Nuclear trade with the nation had been outlawed because India is one of just three countries never to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and does not allow IAEA monitoring of all its nuclear activities. Led by the United States, major nuclear supplier nations have dropped their domestic rules against nuclear sales to India and have also exempted New Delhi from international trade rules.
The Additional Protocol, which still must be ratified in New Delhi, was approved by consensus of the board, although some of its 35 members expressed little enthusiasm for the measure.
"Switzerland, Ireland, Cuba and South Africa protested that the agreement was handed to the board only two days ago, too late to thoroughly assess whether it will really contribute to disarmament," said one diplomat. "It doesn't because there are no provisions to ensure India cannot divert into its military nuclear sector nuclear materials and know-how it obtains abroad for the civilian sector."
The 31-page document makes clear that inspectors will not be free to conduct normally standard procedures.
"Verification activities in question are not linked to quantitative yardsticks like inventories of nuclear materials," the preamble says, adding that "the frequency and intensity of (IAEA checks) shall be kept to the minimum consistent" with the aim of improving safeguards (Mark Heinrich, Reuters, March 3).