By NNN-APP
New Delhi : India has ventured in African continent in its attempt to acquire uranium for its ambitious nuclear programme.
At present, India is engaged in negotiations with IAEA for safeguards agreement before operationalising the Indo-US nuclear deal.
An African country, Gabon has informed New Delhi “it will not be averse to supplying uranium to India.” An Indian company has recently acquired exclusive rights for exploration and mining of uranium in Niger, “The Asian Age” reported.
Niger, Namibia and certain other African countries produce sizeable quantities of uranium.
The daily quoting sources said Gabon has expressed willingness to enter into a commercial agreement with India. A Mumbai-based Indian has made a foray into Niger’s uranium mining industry.
After the reluctance of Australia, Canada and Kazakhstan to supply uranium to non-NPT signatories like India, India is forced to refocus attention on the non-NSG countries, the daily said.
India is hosting a summit of the India-Africa Forum in April where India will push forward its intention to import uranium from African countries.
The Indian think-tanks are also putting pressure on India to go ahead this policy as according to Prof. Bharat Karnad of the New Delhi-based Centre for Policy Research, exploring the non-NSG African states for uranium is “eminently realizable” and a better option than tying India to the proposed India-US civil nuclear cooperation agreement, the daily added.