India and Japan to sign nuclear cooperation deal next week

New Delhi: A civil nuclear cooperation agreement which is likely to be signed between India and Japan next week may pave the way for more nuclear plants in the country and lead to better availability of power.

The deal is likely to be sealed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Japan on November 11 and 12 . The technical and other aspects of the issue has been already discussed at the official level and different formalities worked out.

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When asked if the deal will be inked on the first day of the visit, an external affairs ministry spokesman said on Thursday ” the outcome of the meeting cannot be pre-judged”.

The question has surfaced in the light of political resistance in Japan over the proposed deal after the disaster at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in 2011.

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It may be recalled that Japan is a major player in the nuclear energy market and a nuclear deal with it will make it easier for US-based nuclear plant makers to set up plants in India because they have Japanese investments.

During his visit Modi will have an audience with the Emperor of Japan and hold the annual summit meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. A delegation of Japanese parliamentarians is already here which called on Prime Minister on Thursday.