The Prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today dedicated the 100 tonne annual capacity reprocessing plant to the nation at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Tarapur in Maharashtra. Describing the occasion as a mile stone in the 3- stage nuclear programme, the Prime Minister said that this will help fulfill the energy security needs of the country. He also said that the nuclear energy programme is an outstanding example of clean development. He added that the recycling and optimum utilisation of uranium is essential to meet country's current and future energy security needs. The prime minister said the plant is also essential for the transition from the first to the second stage of the programme for building fast breeder reactors to produce sustainable and clean energy for the country. The Prime Minister also emphasized that the reprocessing plant is essential for thorium utilisation.