On Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s visit to Canada, an important agreement has been signed between the two countries. Canada has agreed to supply 3K metric tonnes of uranium over 5 years to India under a $254 million deal to power Indian atomic reactors. This potential agreement was signed between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper after having detailed talks in Ottawa, Canada. The agreement comes in line with the Canada- India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement that took effect in 2013.

As per this agreement, Canada’s Cameco Corporation will supply uranium to India for next five years starting from 2015. These supplies will be under the safeguards of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In 1970s, Canada had banned exports of uranium and nuclear hardware to India after it was alleged that India had used Canadian technology to develop a nuclear bomb. The ban was removed after signing the Canada- India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement signed in 2013. Canada also agreed to supply uranium to India.

Tidbits

1. Uranium is named after the planet Uranus. The symbol is U and its atomic number is 92.
2. Marin H. Klaproth is generally credited with discovering uranium 1789.
3. Uranium-235 is the most important uranium isotope for the creation of nuclear reactors and weapons.
4. Over 33% of the world’s uranium is mined in Kazakhstan.
5. Canada is the second-largest producer of uranium globally.