Nuclear expansion on agenda of PM visit to Russia

New Delhi: The upcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Russia is expected to see the two countries deciding on expansion of nuclear programme, government told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Minister of State for PMO Jitendra Singh said the earlier visits of the Prime Minister to various countries were also marked by signing of agreements to procure uranium and give boost the nuclear programme.

"I would like to point out that one of the major achievements of the Prime Minister's foreign trips in the last few months is the reinforcement of our uranium and our nuclear programme," he said.

Singh said the pacts signed during Modi's foreign visits included an agreement with Canada in April for procuring 5,000 metric tonne (MT) of uranium.

"During his (PM) visit to Kazakhstan, we could finalise a deal for 7,000 MT uranium. During his visit to Australia, a Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, which had waited for several years, was finalised," the minister said while replying to questions.

He said during Modi's visit the US, a deal was finalised for the construction of nuclear reactors in Gujarat and during the visit to France, a deal was finalised with AREVA, world's leading nuclear power company.

"For the visit of the Prime Minister to Russia, a programme has been finalised for expansion of nuclear programme," he said about the trip expected later this month.

Singh said India currently has a storage of 2,25,000 tonnes of uranium and is the richest source of thorium.