Australia to Start Uranium Exports to India After Years of Delay

Australia and India have reached a significant milestone in their bilateral relations with the agreement to commence uranium exports for peaceful purposes. This announcement was made during a meeting between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Melbourne on Thursday. The two leaders confirmed that they have finalized the necessary administrative arrangements to implement a civil nuclear cooperation agreement, which had been in limbo since 2014.

The joint statement issued after the meeting emphasized that the uranium exported will be used solely for peaceful applications and will be subject to safeguards from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This accord stems from a 2015 agreement allowing Australia to export uranium to India, despite India’s status as a non-signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

While the announcement marks a positive development in bilateral ties, details regarding the volume of uranium to be exported or the timeline for these shipments have not yet been disclosed. The initial agreement made in 2014 allowed for uranium sales, but the execution was delayed due to apprehensions surrounding the potential diversion of material for military purposes. Australia, which possesses the largest known uranium reserves globally, is now poised to play a crucial role in bolstering India’s energy strategy.

India’s ambitious plan aims to establish 100 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity by the year 2047 as part of its sustainable energy goals. Presently, the country has an operational nuclear power capacity of approximately 8,780 megawatts. India has consistently argued that the NPT is inherently discriminatory, as it only recognizes states that conducted nuclear tests before January 1967 as nuclear-weapon states, thereby marginalizing nations like India that conducted tests later, in 1998.

The resumption of uranium exports from Australia is viewed as a step towards enhancing energy security and addressing climate concerns in India. By integrating nuclear power into its energy mix, India aims to reduce its carbon footprint and meet the growing energy demands of its population. This agreement not only strengthens economic ties between the two nations but also reinforces their shared commitment to promoting peace and stability in the region.

Source: scroll.in