Australian Prime Minister John Howard today announced that his government has decided to allow the export of uranium to India, subject to strict conditions.
New Delhi, Aug.16 : Australian Prime Minister John Howard today announced that his government has decided to allow the export of uranium to India, subject to strict conditions.
In a message given through the Australian High Commission here, Howard said: "I have today informed Prime Minister Singh of this decision, which he welcomed."
He, however, said that uranium supply to India is subject to the following conditions:
Conclusion of a suitable safeguards agreement between India and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) covering all designated civil nuclear facilities;
Conclusion by India of an Additional Protocol on strengthened safeguards;
A consensus decision by the Nuclear Suppliers Group to make an exception to its guidelines enabling international civil supply to India;
Conclusion of a bilateral civil nuclear co-operation agreement between India and the United States; and
Satisfactory progress in implementing India's commitment to place designated civil nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards in perpetuity.
Howard said Australian uranium supply to India would also be conditional on the conclusion of a bilateral Australia-India safeguards agreement providing assurances that Australian uranium would remain in peaceful uses at all times, supported by satisfactory verification arrangements to ensure that no Australian nuclear materials supplied to India would contribute to any military purpose.
"India is the world's largest democracy, an increasingly influential regional power and an important potential strategic partner for Australia. This decision is one key element of a comprehensive package of measures the Government is taking to strengthen this important relationship," Howard said, adding Contingent on the conditions above being met, it will be of significant economic and strategic advantage to both countries."
Howard said uranium in Australia will create increased exports and jobs over the longer term. The industry already generates 658 million dollars annually in exports, and India will be a large and growing market.
"India's requirement for reliable, clean sources of energy is growing rapidly. India will build 11 new reactors to triple her energy generation from nuclear power and is projected to need up to 12,000 tonnes of uranium per annum to 2032. Assisting India to meet her rapidly growing energy needs using low emission energy sources such as nuclear power will make a huge contribution to reducing global greenhouse emissions. The use of nuclear power today already reduces global emissions by more than 2 billion tonnes a year," he said.
"The decision recognises India's strong non-proliferation record and will help to bring India more fully into the non-proliferation mainstream," he added.
Earlier in the day, doubts emerged about Australia's plans to export uranium to India even before the Prime Ministers of the two countries meet to discuss cabinet's decision in favour of the yellowcake shipment.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer warned that no uranium would be exported to India until the conclusion of the agreement between the US and India on nuclear power.
Downer said Australia would "first of all" have to await the signing of a US-India pact to transfer civilian nuclear fuel and technology before Australian uranium went to India.
The Howard Government decided in principle to export uranium to India Tuesday, on conditional safeguards.
The US State Department yesterday warned that an Indian atomic test could sabotage the deal, The Australian reported.
In Canberra, the Labour Party demanded the Howard Government to immediately review the pending decision to sell uranium to India.
"The Indian Government won't rule out nuclear testing and Australia has multiple international treaty obligations that the government should uphold," Opposition Foreign Affairs spokesman, Robert McClelland, said.
Australia is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, whereas India is not. Its refusal to sign up to the agreement has intensified fears that uranium for Indian power plants could be diverted for military purposes.
Downer told the ABC that Australia could have its own and International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors checking Indian nuclear plants to ensure proper use of the uranium if the exports are allowed.
Ziggy Switkowski, chairman of the Australian National Science and Technology Organisation and the author of John Howard's report on the nuclear industry, said he thought it was appropriate that Australia made its nuclear agreement with India conditional.
ANI