Context:
• India signed a $2.6 billion uranium supply deal with Canada’s Cameco to strengthen its nuclear energy capacity.
Key Highlights:
- Agreement Details
• Supply of 10,000 tonnes of uranium (2027–2035)
• Deal under India-Canada Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (2010) - Domestic Capacity
• India has 4.2–4.3 lakh tonnes of uranium ore
• Extractable uranium: 76,000–92,000 tonnes - Nuclear Energy Status
• 24 reactors with ~9 GW capacity
• Target: 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047 - Government Initiatives
• ₹20,000 crore allocated for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) - Import Dependence
• India imports ~75% of uranium needs
• Agreements with:
- Kazakhstan
- Uzbekistan
- Russia
- Strategic Concerns
• NCA requires fissionable material accounting
• Criticism: may free domestic uranium for strategic/military use - Technological Aspects
• Transition from Stage 1 → Stage 2 of nuclear programme
• Focus on thorium-based energy (long-term goal)
Relevant Prelims Points:
• Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT):
- Prevents spread of nuclear weapons
• NSG Waiver (2008): - Allowed India civil nuclear trade despite not signing NPT
• Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR): - Produces more fissile material than it consumes
• Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR): - Uses natural uranium as fuel
Relevant Mains Points:
- Energy Security
- Reduces reliance on fossil fuels
- Ensures stable base-load power supply
- Clean Energy Transition
- Nuclear energy is low-carbon, aiding climate goals
- Supports India’s net-zero commitments
- Geopolitical Significance
- Strengthens India-Canada relations
- Diversifies nuclear fuel supply sources
- Challenges
- High capital costs and delays in projects
- Safety concerns and public resistance
- Slow progress in thorium utilization
- Strategic Concerns
- Dual-use nature of nuclear material
- Global scrutiny over non-NPT status
- Way Forward
- Accelerate SMR deployment
- Enhance domestic uranium exploration
- Fast-track thorium-based reactors
- Strengthen safety and regulatory frameworks
UPSC Relevance:
• GS 3: Energy security, nuclear technology
• GS 2: International relations, nuclear agreements