India to seek uranium on President visit to Namibia

India will seek uranium from Namibia for its peaceful nuclear energy use during the visit of President Pranab Mukherjee by trying to convince the fourth largest producer of the mineral to implement a seven-year-old agreement enabling the supply.

President Mukherjee will visit Ghana, Ivory Coast and Namibia starting June 13 during which a range of important bilateral, regional and international issues are expected to come up during his talks with the African leaders. It will be President Mukherjee’s first ever visit to these countries.

The supply of uranium to India is expected to figure during the talks Mr Mukherjee will have with Namibian President Hage Gottfried Geingob, MEA secretary (economic relations) Amar Sinha told reporters on Wednesday.

India had signed an agreement on cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear energy with Namibia in 2009 when the then President Hifikepunye Pohamba visited India.

The agreement has not been able to take off as it is yet to be ratified by the Namibian Parliament. Besides, that country is bound by the Pelindaba treaty signed by the African Union which prevents the supply of uranium to countries which have not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Officials said India has signed bilateral agreements with countries like Australia, Canada for uranium supply without signing NPT. “We have raised this issue with Namibia and we would again try to impress upon them that India is a very good market for uranium and the fact is that because we had thought that this MoU would kick in quickly and has not happened.”