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60
ACTION ERDA-07
INFO OCT-01 EUR-12 NEA-10 ISO-00 OES-06 AID-05 IO-13
ACDA-10 NRC-07 JUSE-00 /071 W
--------------------- 009958
R 021221Z JUL 76
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6922
INFO AMCONSUL BOMBAY
USIA WASHDC
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMCONSUL CALCUTTA
AMCONSUL MADRAS
UNCLAS NEW DELHI 9812
E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: PFOR,TECH,IN,US
SUBJECT: TARAPUR: PRESS ON DELAY IN U.S. URANIUM SHIPMENTS
REF: BOMBAY 1641 (NOTAL), NEW DELHI 9516
1.AN EDITORIAL IN THE STATESMAN ("UNCERTAINTY AT TARAPUR")
AND A WASHINGTON-DATELINE NEWS STORY IN THE INDIAN EXPRESS
("U.S. MAY SHIP URANIUM FOR SIX MONTHS") TODAY ACKNOWLEDGED
EFFORTS BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT TO OBTAIN RELEASE OF U.S.
NUNCLEAR FUEL SUPPLIES FOR SHIPMENT TO INDIA, AND THE
EXPRESS JUDGED IT "LIKELY THAT THE U.S. WILL SHIP TO INDIA
SIX MONTH'S SUPPLY OF ENRICHED URANIUM FOR THE TARAPUR
REACTOR WHILE THE NRC HOLDS HEARINGS LATER IN JULY ON ALL
ASPECTS OF AMERICA'S WORLD-WIDE NUCLEAR EXPORTS."
2. THE EXPRESS'S CORRESPONDENT, T.V. PARASURAM, REPORTED
THAT AMBASSADOR SAXBE "HAS BEEN IN WASHINGTON FOR MORE
THAN A WEEK DISCUSSING WITH KEY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND
COMMISSION MEMBERS THE NEED FOR EARLY SHIPMENTS TO
FULFILL THE AMERICAN COMMITMENT. IT IS LEARNT THE STATE
DEPARTMENT HAS PLAYED A MAJOR PART IN ALLAYING MISUNDER-
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STANDINGS."
3. THE STATESMAN EDITORIAL SAID THAT J.C. SHAH, CHAIRMAN
OF INDIA'S ATOMIC POWER AUTHORITY, "HAS DISCLOSED THAT
THE UNCERTAIN FUEL SUPPLY POSITION FOR THE TARAPUR PLANT
CONTINUES TO BE A CAUSE FOR CONCERN. APPARENTLY THE U.S.
NRC'S INFORMAL DECISION ON MAY 21 TO CLEAR ONE SHIPMENT
OF ENRICHED URANIUM ... HAS NOT REMOVED UNCERTAINTY.
DR. SHAH HAS SAID THAT IF A MINIMUM OF NINE TONNES OF
ENRICHED URANIUM IS NOT RECEIVED BY THE END OF AUGUST,
POWER GENERATION AT TARAPUR MAY HAVE TO BE REDUCED TO
CONSERVE FUEL STOCKS."
4. THE EDITORIAL SAID "THE NRC IS NOT UNAWARE OF THE
LIKELY CONSEQUENCES" IF THE SHIPMENTS ARE NOT RELEASED,
BUT "IT IS TAKING AN UNCONSCIONABLY LONG TIME TO MAKE UP
ITS MIND. THIS MAY BE, AT LEAST PARTLY, DUE TO CONTINUING
SECTIONAL OPPOSITION TO THE INDIAN ATOMIC ENERGY
PROGRAMME."
5. THE STATESMAN CONCLUDED: "THE NOTION THAT AMERICAN
NUCLEAR SUPPLIES MAY HAVE HELPED INDIA TO CONDUCT THE
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSION IN THE RAJASTHAN DESERT DOES NOT
SEEM TO HAVE BEEN FULLY DISPELLED. IT IS, HOWEVER,
REASSURING TO NOTE THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAD DONE
ABOUT ALL THAT IT COULD TO REMOVE SUCH MISCONCEPTIONS.
IT HAS AGAIN AFFIRMED THAT IT HAS NO REASON TO
DOUBT, ON THE BASIS OF AVAILABLE FACTS, THE INDIAN
STATEMENT THAT NO U.S. SUPPLIED MATERIAL WAS USED IN
DETONATING A NUCLEAR DEVICE IN 1974."SCHNEIDER
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