Prime Minister Julia Gillard says a deal to sell uranium to Russia under harsh safeguards will create jobs, as world leaders grapple with a stressed global economy. Ms Gillard and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday met on the sidelines of the G20 leaders summit for a service to seal an contract on nuclear energy. Australian miners have been able to trade uranium to Russia since 1990 but only to be process in that country on behalf of third countries and not for nuclear power in Russia itself. The deal is in line with present agreements with the US, China, Japan and South Korea.
"The agreement will help Russia to meet its increasing energy needs as it seeks to reduce its greenhouse emissions by diversify its energy basis and shifting away from a reliance on fossil fuels," the prime minister said. "It will enlarge export opportunities and create jobs for Australia's uranium suppliers and consolidates Australia's position as a reliable supplier of energy resources." Ms Gillard said the contract met all of Australia's and the International Atomic Energy Agency's nuclear safeguard. Mining industry figures are speculated India may be next cab off the rank but only if it decides to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, which is a necessity to import Australian uranium.
US President Barack Obama, who is also presence G20, this week backed India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which need strong export safeguards. The issue is likely to be a topic for discussion when Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visits Australia late next year. About 10,500 tonnes of uranium is export from Australia's three mines each year, worth around $1.1 billion. Ms Gillard spent the day in the lead-up to Thursday night's official leaders welcome presence a Remembrance Day service at Seoul's national war memorial, meeting with Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper and address business leaders.
"The agreement will help Russia to meet its increasing energy needs as it seeks to reduce its greenhouse emissions by diversify its energy basis and shifting away from a reliance on fossil fuels," the prime minister said. "It will enlarge export opportunities and create jobs for Australia's uranium suppliers and consolidates Australia's position as a reliable supplier of energy resources." Ms Gillard said the contract met all of Australia's and the International Atomic Energy Agency's nuclear safeguard. Mining industry figures are speculated India may be next cab off the rank but only if it decides to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, which is a necessity to import Australian uranium.
US President Barack Obama, who is also presence G20, this week backed India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which need strong export safeguards. The issue is likely to be a topic for discussion when Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visits Australia late next year. About 10,500 tonnes of uranium is export from Australia's three mines each year, worth around $1.1 billion. Ms Gillard spent the day in the lead-up to Thursday night's official leaders welcome presence a Remembrance Day service at Seoul's national war memorial, meeting with Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper and address business leaders.
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