S Africa keen on nuclear tie-up with India

Ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to South Africa, the uranium-rich country has expressed its readiness for civil nuclear cooperation with India and hinted at supporting New Delhi's case at the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

"Our view is that all countries have the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. There are advantages in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," South African High Commissioner Francis Moloi told PTI in an interview in New Delhi.

With regard to the possibility of India and South Africa forging cooperation in the civil nuclear field, he said, "Certainly, this is an area that provides opportunity for us to cooperate. I don't see any obstacle."

He made it clear that South Africa had no proliferation concerns with regard to India tapping nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

"India has an excellent track record in terms of non-proliferation which cannot be doubted. We are aware of India's impeccable record in this regard," he said.

The readiness of South Africa, a key player in the 45-member NSG, for cooperating with India in the civil nuclear field significantly comes as the Indo-US civil nuclear deal nears completion of the legislative process in America.

Dr Singh will travel to South Africa on September 30 for a three-day visit during which he will participate in centenary celebrations of the launch of Satyagraha by Mahatma Gandhi. The prime minister will hold talks with South African President Thabo Mbeki on enhancing cooperation between the two countries in diverse fields.

Noting that India's economy is growing at eight per cent and is targeted to reach double-digit mark, Moloi said the country needs to diversify its sources of energy, and nuclear power is one such source that should be tapped. Moloi pointed out that South Africa had 'huge uranium deposits' and, considering India's advanced technology in the use of civil nuclear energy, the cooperation will be beneficial. On how soon such cooperation can begin, he said the nitty-gritty will have to be worked out by specialists.

Moloi indicated that South Africa will support the Indo-US civil nuclear deal at the NSG, which is required to adjust its guidelines to allow the world community to trade with India in the civil nuclear field.

"We can't change the rules of NPT for the world but between friends, you can be sure that issues will be looked at like friends," he said.

South Africa's approach will be guided by a whole range of issues like its strategic relations with India and long-term warm ties and the building of future relations as 'friends of all seasons,' he said.

Moloi said India has briefed South Africa and is talking to other NSG members as part of efforts to make the world community find accommodation for India within the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty regime. "We don't see any reason why India should not take advantage of that (civil nuclear source), especially in view of the competence it has developed in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," he said.

Asked whether South Africa will wait for the Indo-US civil nuclear deal to go through the legislative process in America or go ahead with cooperation irrespective of it, Moloi did not give a clear reply but said there is a 'need for cooperation between the two countries (India and South Africa) which have excellent relations." The cooperation is 'quite desirable,' he said.

On defence cooperation between the two countries, he said supplies from South Africa had been halted in the wake of a controversy over the alleged use of middlemen by Denel but the overall relations in the field have remained unaffected. He hoped processes with regard to the Denel row in both India and South Africa will be completed soon.