Impasse over nuclear liability provisions, other civil issues

India and Russia have put off their high-level engagement planned for November 1 by almost two months in order to reach an agreement on some contentious military and civil issues. The announcement about the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian President Vladimir Putin was first made by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) here in a statement and later by the Russian government.

Two sides also discuss possibility of technological cooperation in gas hydrates that are tough to extract

In the second interaction of its kind this year, India has agreed to test-run Japanese projects intended to improve or utilise the country’s basic energy resources such as coal and water. During the India-Japan Energy Dialogue, which took place in Japan on Wednesday, the two sides also discussed the possibility of technological cooperation in the difficult-to-extract gas hydrates, touched on the possibility of developing an almost carbon-free integrated gasification combined cycle project in India and reviewed ongoing renewable energy projects, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia told The Hindu from Tokyo.

Even as protests continue at Kudankulam, sources here said the Government had for the first time agreed to allow an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team to conduct safety review of two atomic power plants located in Rajasthan.

“Public confidence has to be built by transparency. We are getting legislation to strengthen regulatory bodies and as a related measure the IAEA’s Operational Safety Review Team [OSART] will visit Rajasthan in November. India will study its report and take on board suggestions. The Government’s position is that more needs to be done on safety aspects,’’ added the sources.

India-Canada ties, which have had a roller coaster journey since Independence, are looking up again. During two high-level meetings this month, both sides discussed the possibility of tie-ups in the energy sector, mainly hydrocarbon, as civil nuclear energy talks have been held up, with both sides not willing to disclose the reasons.

If and when India manages to tie up oil and gas supply arrangements with Canada, it would perhaps be the first time it would be leaning in such a comprehensive manner on the North American continent for energy security.

Despite objections from Central Ministries fearing delay and undue veto power to Bangladesh

Two sides decide to reopen talks on civil nuclear agreement

Japan on Monday asked India to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) even as the two sides decided to reopen talks on a bilateral civil nuclear agreement. During the sixth Foreign Minister-level strategic dialogue here, the two sides agreed to prepare a master plan for the industrial development of south India, especially areas around Chennai and Bangalore, and accelerate talks on export of rare earths to Japan.

Bangladesh, Nepal and India are discussing collaboration in river water sharing, an emotive issue in all three countries, highly placed sources said.
“There could be a tri-nation meeting very soon. We are working on it.”

The broader idea is to rope in Bhutan as well, where public opinion has not been as vocal as in these three countries over hydel projects and sharing waters of common rivers.

Just when the government felt it had sorted out all the wrinkles in the Nuclear Liability Act, eminent jurist Soli Sorabjee has said the crucial rule restricting the liability of supplier to just f

The Australian Labour Party has backed Prime Minister Julia Gillard's proposal to reverse the ban on sale of uranium to India.

India said there was no need to get its domestic nuclear liability law vetted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure it complied with the Convention on Supplemental Compensation (CSC).