Indo-Canadian nuclear deal includes joint efforts in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor technology

NEW DELHI: The Indo-Canadian nuclear deal signed on Wednesday not only includes supply of uranium to power India’s atomic reactors but also includes key collaboration in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) technology.

"The Prime Ministers agreed to encourage a collaborative programme to leverage their industries' respective strengths in the field of PHWR technology for mutual benefit, as well as for the benefit of global nuclear energy needs," read a joint statement issued after talks between Modi and his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper.

Sources hoped that this would increase capacity of India PWHRs. Collaboration in the filed of reactor technology is expected to be smooth as Canada had supplied the nuclear reactor CIRUS to India in the mid-1950s under the Atom for Peace Programme for civilian use of nuclear energy. India’s indigenous nuclear reactors are based on Canadian CANDU.