Amabassador: India-Japan nuclear cooperation unhampered by Fukushima

Japan said the Fukushima nuclear incident will not hamper its ongoing negotiations for a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with India.

Japanese Ambassador Akitaka Saiki said the nuclear disaster following a tsunami sent a “very very serious message” but both the countries will go back to talks to firm up the proposed pact.

Japan and India had started talks for a civil nuclear cooperation agreement last year, aiming at allowing Japanese companies to export atomic power technology and equipment to India. But there were apprehension that these negotiations could receive a set back following the radiation scare in Fukushima nuclear power plant after the tsunami struck the country in March 11.


However, since both countries are currently in the process of strengthening the safety mechanism in nuclear power plants, Saiki said it may take some time to resume the negotiations on the nuclear pact.

“I think the review process both in India and Japan will take some time. We need to allay concerns of our residents and we need to go through the process of persuading our residents living in neighbourhood of nuclear power stations,” he said.