As Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper embarks on a six-day official visit to India beginning November 4, both the sides will be hoping that there is some forward movement on the bilateral civil nuclear agreement that was inked in 2010 but which remains on paper since.
On Thursday, the ministry of external affairs hoped that there will be some forward movement on this deal as PM Harper wings his way to India. The pact was inked with the aim of cooperation in the civil nuclear energy sector particularly as India will be looking to get the much-needed uranium supplies as well as equipment from Canada.
Uranium, in fact, is not the only resource that New Delhi has been eyeing in Canada in its quest for energy security. The North American nation’s reserves of shale oil and gas are other energy sources that India has been exploring.
Speaking to reporters about the impending visit by the Canadian PM, joint secretary (Americas) in the MEA, Vikram Doraiswami, said on Thursday: “The specificities and modalities of getting the cooperation operationalised are being discussed. We hope to have forward movement on this in time for PM Harper’s visit... We would be very happy if it comes through.”
He added, “(The) quality of India-Canada cooperation has significantly changed as a result of that (nuclear deal) and as a result of Canada’s support for India-specific safeguards at the IAEA prior to the 2010 agreement.”
In the two years since the nuke deal, what has hampered further progress on it is the difference of opinion that New Delhi and Ottawa have over the “administrative” arrangements that need to be put in place before cooperation in this sector begins.