The first batch of imported uranium for one of India’s fuel-starved nuclear reactors is likely to come from Kazakhstan with a purchase order in this regard expected to be finalised by next month, sources said.

Kazakhstan figures high on the list of countries India is negotiating with for procuring high-grade uranium following the waiver New Delhi was able to obtain from the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) in September.

Official sources said talks with a Kazakhstan company were in advanced stage and, if things worked out well, an order could be placed sometime next month. The actual receipt of uranium would take at least a couple of months more.

However, as of now, the imported uranium would only be a minor relief for India’s nuclear reactors, which have been operating at 40-60 per cent of their operational capacity for several months now due to a severe fuel crunch.

India is still to finalise its separation plan, identifying the nuclear reactor, which it wishes to place under IAEA safeguards and, thereby, make them eligible for using imported fuel. Till the separation plan is completed, this imported fuel, whenever it arrives, can be used only at Unit-2 of the Rawatbhata Atomic Power Station (RAPS), near Kota in Rajasthan, as this facility is already under the IAEA safeguards.