Governement offers help in search of orphan radioactive sources

SEOULl: Offering assistance through the global nuclear watchdog IAEA, India today said that it can help in search and recovery of orphan radioactive sources in countries that were unable to effectively deal with them.

"India offered assistance through the IAEA for search and recovery of orphan radioactive sources in countries which were unable to effectively deal with them and had sought such assistance," said the National Progress Report, presented by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the second Nuclear Security Summit here.

The report also stresses on minimisation of use of civilian Highly Enriched Uranium, which was the base for the fuel in the Apsara reactor located inside the Bhahba Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai.

"...the enriched uranium based fuel in the APSARA reactor was placed in a safeguarded facility in December 2010. APSARA will use indigenous fuel which is not high enriched uranium," the report said.

However, it noted the growing demand for large-scale production of isotopes for a range of applications - healthcare, industry, food and agriculture.

"India's three-stage nuclear programme is based on a closed nuclear fuel cycle, the principle of 'reprocess-to-reuse' and ensuring control over nuclear material at all stages," it said.

The report lists steps taken by India to secure it nuclear material under eight heads, including signing international legal instruments, support to the International Atomic Energy Agency, UN and other mechanisms, the national legal framework, reduction of nuclear material and international cooperation.