Friday, January 20 2006 17:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Netherlands, a member of the 45-country Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), today (Jan 20, 2006) said it understood India's growing need for energy but stopped short of committing its support to the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Citing his country's reservations to the use of nuclear energy because of environmental concerns, The Netherlands Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said the Indo-American deal will have to take into account the "important role" of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"We know much more energy will be needed in India and China as it is essential for economic development. But there is a clear link between energy and environment," he told a select group of reporters here when asked about his country's view on the Indo-US civilian nuclear cooperation deal.

"As regards to deal, I would say, please take into account the important role of the IAEA," Balkenende said, adding in the context of nuclear issues, it was essential to have cooperation with the IAEA since the matter concerned the whole world.

Once implemented by the two countries, the Indo-US nuclear deal reached between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President George W Bush in Washington on July 18 last year, has to be endorsed by the NSG.

Under the deal, which is yet to be approved by the US Congress, Washington will lift sanctions on dual-use technology trade with New Delhi. India is also required to separate its civilian and military nuclear facilities.

Noting that the use of nuclear energy involved the problem of waste, The Netherlands Prime Minister said discussions were taking place worldwide about clean nuclear energy, but added that it needed innovations.

He said there was a need to even look at the use of other energy sources like solar and wind power.

The Netherlands, he said, has been laying thrust on use of traditional sources of energy.