Australia – India Civil Nuclear Deal Finalised Amidst Warnings
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In 2014, India and Australia signed the civilian nuclear cooperation agreement during then Australian PM Tony Abbott’s visit to New Delhi. Now, his
successor, Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull, told PM Narendra Modi on
Sunday that procedure for the deal had been completed and could now be
implemented.
“PM Modi thanked the Australian PM and
said the nuclear agreement is a milestone and a source of trust and
confidence. With the completion of procedures, including administrative
arrangements, the Civil Nuclear Agreement will now enter into force,” Ministry of External Affairs (India) spokesperson Vikas Swarup told the media.
This was Modi’s first meeting with Turnbull after he took over.
Former Australian PM Julia Gillard paid a state visit to India in October 2012.
The decision of the Australian government to supply uranium to India
was taken during her time and on September 5, 2014, India and Australia
signed a MoU for “Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy”
during Abbott’s visit.
The significant part of the civil nuclear cooperation agreement was that Australia agreed to become “a long-term reliable supplier of uranium to India.”
Australia is considered to have the largest reserve of recoverable uranium.
World Nuclear Association and the Australian government say that
Australia ranks third in terms of production of uranium. Kazakhstan and
Canada produce more than Australia. If it opens new mines, which it
plans to, its production may increase, and it might become the top
producer in a few years. Australia produces uranium basically to export
as it does not operate nuclear power plants. So, Australia may become the most important uranium supplier to India.
The uranium supply is important for
India’s plans to expand nuclear energy. The current nuclear expansion
plan needs uranium and India has concluded agreements with Canada and
Kazakhstan among others.
However, a Huffington Post piece
suggests it was only around two months ago that the Joint Standing
Committee on Treaties delivered a well-considered report into
Australia’s controversial plan to sell uranium to India. The
government-controlled Committee identified a number of practical steps
& recommendations needed to address safety, security and legal
uncertainty around the deal.
According to Dave Sweeney, earlier this week, the government chose to ignore these recommendations — emphatically stating that “the Government does not accept the Committee’s recommendation that exports of uranium to India should be deferred.”
