V.S. Ramamurthy, secretary in the science and technology ministry, said India, which declared itself a nuclear power in 1998, found the fusion project "interesting."

"The government will be considering it," Ramamurthy said, noting that India had abundant skilled labour to work on a hi-tech project.

The Hindu newspaper reported that Ramamurthy discussed the reactor plan last week in New Delhi with the visiting chief science adviser to the British government, David King.

The report said King suggested that India could be a "junior partner" to reduce its financial contribution to the 10-billion-dollar project

Ramamurthy said Sunday that if India joined the effort it would have to contribute around "several billion rupees." Three billion rupees converts to 66.5 million dollars.

Ramamurthy acknowledged there would be a "political" dimension to Indian participation.

India invited an array of military sanctions in 1998 by carrying out nuclear tests, which were quickly followed by rival Pakistan.

"Today's politics cannot be deciding factor for the future," Ramamurthy said.

The nuclear fusion project is a collaboration by the European Union, Russia, China, the United States, South Korea and Japan.

Two sites, the French town of Cadarache and the northern Japanese village of Rokkasho-mura, are vying to host the nuclear fusion reactor, which would be operational in 2014.

WAR.WIRE