India, Japan civil nuclear deal comes into force

• A landmark civil nuclear cooperation deal between India and Japan that provides for collaboration between their industries in the field came into force.
• The civil nuclear cooperation agreement was signed last November during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Tokyo after years of negotiations.
• The deal allows Japan to export nuclear technology to India, making it the first non-NPT signatory to have such a deal with Tokyo.
• There was political resistance in Japan - the only country to suffer atomic bombings during World War II - against a nuclear deal with India, particularly after the disaster at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in 2011.

Analysis:

• Japanese companies are world leaders in nuclear technology. Whether a reactor is French or Korean, key components like reactor vessels are the monopoly of Japanese firms like JSW. Only Russian reactors are not dependent on Japanese parts, but their reactors are limited to 1000 MW and have outdated safety technology.
• This Agreement is a reflection of the strategic partnership between India and Japan and will pave the way for enhanced cooperation in energy security and clean energy.
• It seeks to promote full cooperation between the two countries in the development and uses of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes on a stable, reliable and predictable basis.
• The deal is essential for bringing a network of nuclear energy cooperation for India, especially with the U.S. as prominent American nuclear companies are owned by the Japanese nuclear majors.

By: Vishal