US lifts restrictions on BARC, two other Indian nuclear entities to boost energy cooperation

The United States government on Wednesday lifted restrictions imposed on the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and two other nuclear entities in India to reduce barriers between New Delhi and Washington in energy cooperation.

The other two entities are the Indira Gandhi Atomic Research Centre and the Indian Rare Earths Limited. All three are government-run institutions.

In a statement, the United States’ Bureau of Industry and Security said that it had modified its entity list after an inter-agency review.

The Entity List, published by the agency, is a list of foreign persons, companies and organisations that are considered a threat to the United States’ national security. Those listed are subject to export restrictions and licensing requirements for certain goods and technologies.

The restrictions on the three Indian organisations were imposed during the Cold War.

“The removal of Indian entities Indian Rare Earths, Indira Gandhi Atomic Research Centre, and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre will support US foreign policy objectives by reducing barriers to advanced energy cooperation, including joint research and development and science and technology cooperation, towards shared energy security needs and goals,” the statement said.

The Bureau of Industry and Security also added 11 entities from China to the Entity List for “activities contrary to US national security and foreign policy interests”, it said.

The removal of the…

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