Asian Nuclear Energy

India will shortly sign an inter-governmental agreement with Kazakhstan on civil nuclear cooperation, as New Delhi pitched for setting up a gas-based petrochemical plant in the Central Asian nation.

This was decided at the seventh meeting of the two-day India-Kazakhstan Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC) on trade, economic, scientific, technological, industrial and cultural cooperation in Astana, the capital and second largest city of Kazakhstan.

The Indian side was led by Petroleum Minister Murli Deora and the Kazakh delegation was led by Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources Sauat Mynbayev.

"Negotiations with respect to the Inter-Governmental Agreement on peaceful uses of nuclear energy are at very advanced stage and the same would be signed very shortly," petroleum minister Murli Deora said at the meeting.

He added that India has proven capabilities in designing, constructing and operating small and medium nuclear plants of the capacity 220-500 MW. "We would be happy to share our expertise with you."

Delegations from both sides could possibly interact to take the discussions forward. "Both sides also agreed to sign the Inter-Governmental Agreement on Civil Nuclear Cooperation shortly," an official statement said.

Both countries also agreed to set up two Joint Working Groups one on Trade and Economic Cooperation and one on Pharmaceuticals to promote bilateral cooperation.

Extensive discussions were held on cooperation in the energy sector, which particularly included the Satpayev oil block, setting up of a petrochemical complex as well as thermal power projects.

Deora also discussed giving 25 per cent stake in Satpayev oilfield of Kazakhstan to ONGC Mittal Energy Ltd, the joint venture of ONGC Videsh and billionaire Lakshmi Mittal.

The half yearly imports is estimated to 0.35 million tonnes of crude oil from Kazakhstan. "All issues have been discussed and finalised between KazMunaiGaz and OMEL. I hope that both the companies would be able to sign the Exploration and Production contract at the earliest," Deora said.

Deora added that ONGC, IOC and GAIL have had preliminary discussions on setting up an Integrated Petrochemical Project in Atyrau.

NTPC is discussing setting up a power project in Kazakhstan.

"We are also interested in importing coal from Kazakhstan," he said.

He added that India had also proposed the establishment of a gas based fertiliser plant in Kazakhstan.

"Such a project would be mutually beneficial for both our countries. We would be willing to import all the fertiliser which would be produced by the plant. Several Indian pharmaceutical companies are interested in establishing manufacturing facilities in Kazakhstan," Deora said.