Dipanjan Chaudhury reports that Australia, the world biggest uranium producer, is likely to start supplying the metal to India nuclear power plants this year after visiting Premier Malcolm Turnbull helps put in place the mechanism governing the trade.
The two countries had signed a civil nuclear deal in 2014 when former Prime Minister Tony Abbott visited India. Thereafter, Australia put in place a safeguards agreement and last December passed the legislation to start supplying uranium to India, a trade viewed as the cornerstone of a bilateral strategic partnership. The hint of uranium sales to India came from none other than Turnbull, who would be in the country between April 9 and 12.
India wants to provide energy security through a range of technologies, including nuclear, clean coal, natural gas and renewable energy. Australia is well placed to provide many of the raw materials, and some of the latest technology, Turnbull said in a Sydney Institute speech on Thursday ahead of his trip to India.
Besides nuclear energy, defense ties will be high on the agenda of the talks Turnbull will hold with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi next Monday. Australia is willing to rejoin the Indo-US-Japan trilateral Malabar Naval exercise, eyeing to play a role of a stabilizer in the Indian Ocean Region.
Also, see related pieces:
Under bilateral civil nuclear cooperation agreements, India imported over 345 tonnes of uranium from Russia and 250 tonnes from Canada during 2015-16 to fuel Indian nuclear plants.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Russia trip set to boost nuclear plant construction plans.
Canada sends first consignment of uranium to India.
Iran plans to buy 950 tonnes of uranium ore from Kazakhstan over three years and expects Russia to help with refining to plant grade and form.
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