India, UAE ink pact for civil nuclear cooperation

• The signing of the deal took place during the visit of Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, to New Delhi

Highlights:

• In a significant diplomatic and technological development, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for civil nuclear cooperation.
• This marks the first-ever collaboration of this kind between the two nations. The agreement, signed between India’s Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and UAE’s Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC), took place during the visit of Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, to India.

Historical Background of Nuclear Cooperation:

• The foundation for nuclear collaboration between India and the UAE was laid in August 2015, during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UAE.
• Both nations agreed to cooperate in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, with applications in areas such as safety, health, agriculture, and science and technology.
• The recently signed MoU strengthens this bilateral relationship and is seen as a significant step in expanding nuclear energy cooperation.

Trilateral Cooperation Framework:

• The MoU also aligns with a broader trilateral cooperation framework. On September 19, 2022, Foreign Ministers of France, India, and the UAE met during the UN General Assembly and launched a trilateral initiative to promote cooperation in solar and nuclear energy.
• This was followed by a ministerial phone call on February 4, 2023, where the countries reaffirmed their commitment to this trilateral partnership. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that this forum would focus on designing and executing projects in the energy sector.

High-Level Meetings and Agreements:

• The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi’s visit to India included a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. Apart from the civil nuclear cooperation agreement, several other MoUs were signed, reflecting the deepening strategic ties between India and the UAE.

Expanding Cooperation in Energy and Trade

LNG Supply Agreement:

• A major outcome of the visit was the signing of a long-term LNG supply MoU between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited. This deal is crucial for securing India’s energy needs and further diversifies its energy partnerships.

Other Key Agreements

Other notable agreements signed during the visit include:

• Production Concession Agreement between Urja Bharat and ADNOC for Abu Dhabi’s Onshore Block 1.
• A third MoU between ADNOC and India Strategic Petroleum Reserve Limited (ISPRL), furthering India’s energy security strategy.
• A collaboration between the Government of Gujarat and Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company PJSC (ADQ) for developing food parks in India.

Strategic Significance of the Visit:

• This visit and the agreements signed underscore the growing bilateral ties between India and the UAE. The partnerships highlight both nations' mutual interests in energy security, trade, and infrastructure development.
• The nuclear and LNG supply agreements come at a time when the India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the importance of the GCC in global energy supply and India’s role as a major energy consumer.
• In his remarks at the India-GCC Ministerial Meeting, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar acknowledged the strategic importance of the GCC, noting its crucial role in global energy markets and India’s fast-growing energy needs.

Prelims Takeaways:

• India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
• India-UAE Relations