JAIPUR: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a trip to Japan, Greenpeace warned that signing the Nuclear Cooperation Agreement “will not save Westinghouse/Toshiba’s failing nuclear business, nor will it deliver safe energy for the people of India. Instead, it will increase the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation in Asia.” The statement came as a joint press release by Greenpeace Japan and Greenpeace India “The bipartite agreement, due to be signed tomorrow, is intended to open the Indian market to overseas reactor suppliers. It appears to be a desperate effort to secure new contracts for Westinghouse/Toshiba’s AP1000 reactor design, which has had a poor track record globally. While there have been few sales, those projects that are already under construction have overshot their budget and are years behind schedule," the statement said, adding that Japan’s nuclear programme faces a crisis, with just two operating reactors. There is also great opposition to the nuclear programme in Japan.“India’s programme, after 50 years of wasted investment, remains marginal in energy terms, lacks the financing for new reactors, and faces strong opposition throughout the nation, including in Gujarat," said Priya Pillai, energy campaigner, Greenpeace India.“As a nuclear weapon state but not a signatory of the Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, (NPT), India is able to select which of its facilities and nuclear materials are put under international safeguards. In practice, this means that nuclear plants and fissile material (required to manufacture nuclear weapons) can be maintained under India’s military programme. The so-called peaceful cooperation agreements, including with Japan, assist India’s nuclear weapons program directly and indirectly,” Greenpeace said.Greenpeace also recalled Japan’s experience since the start of the Fukushima Daiichi disaster in March 2011. That has shown that “nuclear power is neither wanted nor necessary,” the statement said, advocating a shift to renewable energy sources that are far more sustainable and increasingly competitive economically. Nuclear reactors take tremendously long to build and result in higher costs to taxpayers, the statement said.“As of now, lobbying efforts by Westinghouse/Toshiba have failed to secure $ 8-9 billion in loan guarantees from the U.S. Exim bank to cover some of the costs of the Mithivirdi project. There is strong and sustained community led opposition to the nuclear project from Bhavnagar Jilla Gaon Bachao Samiti in Gujarat,” the press release said, adding that Westinghouse/Toshiba will be hoping to secure financing for the Mithivirdi project from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. “However, the poor record of the AP1000 design, both in construction times and economics, combined with the history of the Indian nuclear program would likely rule out JBID financing for the reactors,” Greenpeace said, warning that there is no “effective separation between India’s nuclear energy programme and its weapons programme. “The Japanese government’s agreement conditions are meaningless. Approving nuclear trade with India is a geo-strategic decision to support further nuclear weapons proliferation in Asia,” said Shaun Burnie, senior nuclear specialist at Greenpeace, Japan.Meanwhile, the women of Fukushima issued an appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the disaster area and see the consequences of nuclear power