Disarmament report promotes “peaceful” nuclear and uranium sales

Commission points way for uranium sales Sydney Morning Herald MARK DAVIS AND JONATHAN PEARLMAN December 16, 2009 AUSTRALIA could drop its ban on selling uranium to India after a report commissioned by the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and his Japanese counterpart recommended changes to the nuclear non-proliferation regime.
The report says the three nuclear-armed countries not covered by the nuclear non-proliferation treaty – India, Pakistan and Israel – should sign up to ”parallel instruments” designed to ensure they did not divert civilian nuclear materials to military use. In return, they would be given access to uranium and other nuclear materials and technology.

India is expanding its civilian nuclear energy sector and wants to buy Australian uranium to fuel its reactors. However, the Federal Government’s policy is to not allow uranium exports to countries that have not ratified the treaty, the main international agreement designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons……………….

Rory Medcalf, the Lowy Institute’s program director for international security, said the report could prompt the Government to abandon Labor’s resistance to nuclear energy and adopt a more open position towards foreign non-military programs.

“This report is very supportive of the nuclear energy renaissance,” he said. ”Australia has to be more actively engaged in the civil nuclear energy revival globally if we are going to be a credible player in the non-proliferation environment.”………..

A senior Government source said Australia’s role as an exporter of uranium indicated it already strongly supported overseas civilian nuclear energy programs.

Commission points way for uranium sales