20 January,2009 09:29 AM IST | | Anshuman G Dutta
To strengthen its position in Central Asia, India is expected to sign a civil nuclear deal with Kazakhstan during the visit of its President Nursultan Nazarbayev for Republic Day celebrations.
The deal will give India access to the second largest nuclear reserve in Kazakhstan and can be helpful in India's nuclear fuel requirement.
Nazarbayev is the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
Kazakhstan had played a crucial role in ending India's nuclear apartheid amid strong opposition by countries including China in September 2008, when the Nuclear Suppliers Group waived off India's nuclear apartheid.
Besides assuring the supply of nuclear fuel to India, the deal could also include joint exploration of nuclear fuel and setting up of atomic plants.
Diplomatic sources also said that India is looking forward to broadening its base in nuclear cooperation with other countries and Kazakhstan could also provide it a much needed access in the central Asian region.
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Kazakhstan has around 50 uranium deposits. It has 15 per cent of the world's uranium resources and an expanding mining sector, aiming for 15,400 tons annual production by 2010, which will make it a world leader. In 2015 Kazakhstan can expect its uranium extraction to increase from 19 to 32 per cent of world volumes.
