SYDNEY: Australia is satisfied with the safeguards India has in place to allow the export of uranium to the nuclear-armed nation, Trade Minister Andrew Robb said yesterday.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott is due to arrive in India tomorrow for his first visit to the country since assuming power a year ago and is expected to sign a deal clinching the export of uranium.
Because India is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, any exports have to be accompanied by guarantees the uranium will only be used for non-military purposes.
Asked what steps had been taken to make sure there were appropriate safeguards, Robb told ABC radio: “We have satisfied ourselves that the steps are in place.
“The negotiations and work that’s gone on between authorities in India and Australia have gone on for some years to develop a bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement which meets the international requirements and we are satisfied, our officials are satisfied, that all the requirements have been met,” he added.
Australia does not use nuclear power but it is the world’s third-ranking uranium producer behind Kazakhstan and Canada. In 2012-13 it exported 8,391 tonnes valued at Aus$823m (US$765m).
AFP
