Britain and India signed a deal on civil nuclear cooperation on Thursday, an official said, as New Delhi continues to build its atomic energy programme following the end of a nuclear trade embargo. The British High Commission told AFP High Commissioner Richard Stagg and Srikumar Banerjee, chairman of India's Atomic Energy Commission, "did sign the civil nuclear deal today" in the Indian capital.

Ministers from both countries had agreed to the text of the pact last week in London.

Britain lifted a ban on exporting sensitive nuclear technology to India for civilian projects in 2008.

Earlier that year, India shed its nuclear pariah status with a landmark cooperation agreement with the United States, which allows India access to civilian nuclear energy despite its refusal to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

India has also signed agreements with France and Russia to boost its civil nuclear energy programme.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said nuclear power generation could meet many of India's electricity demands, and estimated 470,000 megawatts of energy could come from nuclear power stations by 2050.

Currently just 4,120 megawatts are produced by its 17 reactors.

Share This Article With Planet Earth