NEW DELHI, 17 March 2006 — Russia said yesterday its supply of uranium fuel to an Indian atomic plant did not violate Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) guidelines.

“These do not contradict international commitments,” Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov said in response to a question at a business conference here.

“We informed the Nuclear Supplier Group of the supply of fuel to the Tarapur power plant. We are assisting each other to ensure strategic security,” he added.

NSG is an informal club of nations that bars member countries from supplying nuclear equipment or fuel to states such as India, which have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The United States and Russia are leading NSG members. The safety exception clause allows fuel transfers if there is reason to believe that starving a reactor of fuel could result in a nuclear hazard.

India said yesterday that Russia’s decision to supply uranium to two US-built atomic power plants that have been struggling for fuel did not violate global guidelines governing nuclear trade.

“There is no violation of NSG guidelines and Russia has approached NSG under the safety exception clause. The US is aware of the urgent need for fuel for Tarapur,” an Indian Foreign Ministry statement said.

The Indian statement was in response to Washington’s reservations about Moscow’s decision to supply fuel to the plants, built by General Electric in the 1960s.

Within less than a month of India and United States’ close ties being marked by inking of their civilian nuclear cooperation agreement during President George W. Bush’s visit, New Delhi and Moscow are giving the much-needed boost to their long standing strategic relations with a nuclear touch.

A highlight of Fradkov’s visit will be Russia’s commitment to build the Kundankulam plant, which when completed is expected to generate 2,000 MW of power. As per the 2001 agreement, besides designing this plant, Russia is committed to supply 90 percent of the equipment and materials.

Though units I and II of the plant are scheduled to be operational by 2007 and 2008, respectively, India is of the opinion that this would be possible only if Russia expedites supply of material, sources said. This issue would be raised during Indian Premier Manmohan Singh’s talks with Fradkov, who is on a two-day visit to New Delhi.

Fradkov, accompanied by a 15-member trade team, went straight into talks with Indian industry leaders to explore ways to double bilateral trade in the next 10 years from the current five billion dollars annually.

“Russia is keen on bringing in a new level of dialogue between the two trusted allies to expand trade, civil aviation collaboration as well as military interaction between India and Russia,” an Indian Foreign Ministry official said.

Besides the nuclear fuel deal, India and Russia are to sign agreements in information technology, space, banking and energy, Indian officials said.

— Additional input from agencies