India, Canada Close to Inking
Civilian N-Energy Deal

India and Canada are on the verge of signing a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement.

"Both countries are very close to signing a bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement. A joint study group is working on free trade agreement," Indian Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia has said.

Canadian Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt confirmed that the deal was in the pipeline.

"This offers a major market opportunity to Canadian firms to sell nuclear reactors, fuel and technology for safeguarded nuclear reactors but they have to compete with France, the U.S., Russia and Australia," Ahluwalia said.

Canada was among the first countries to sign a nuclear deal with India to set up reactors before India faced sanctions in the wake of this country testing atomic bombs more than three decades back.

France, the United States and Russia have signed their own civilian nuclear trade pacts with New Delhi in recent months after the Nuclear Suppliers Group lifted the sanctions in September 2008.