Even as Australia maintain a blanket ban in selling uranium to nations, which have refuse to sign the nuclear non proliferation treaty, New Delhi is making all efforts to push the envelope and secure supply of this nuclear fuel for India’s civil nuclear programme.Australia is home to 40 per cent of the world’s uranium assets but its present Labor government under Kevin Rudd has already made it clear that it will not supply uranium to those countries which have not signed the NPT.
Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who is on a five day visit to Australia, said he “initiated some discussions” on sourcing uranium supply during his meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith.Hoping that Australian government would accommodate India’s need for uranium, Shinde said, “The whole world is supporting us in our civil nuclear programme. It is for them to decide.”
Seeking anonymity, another senior government official associated Shinde said, “The elections are round the corner in Australia and the present government at this stage may not like to make any guarantee on changing its domestic rule to supply uranium to India. However, this position may alter post elections. We will have to stay.”
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