Antinuclear

Abbott government to fast track sales of uranium to India

India-Australia nuclear agreement back on track with government change in Australia  By ET Bureau | 17 Sep, 2013 DIPANJAN ROY CHAUDHURY  NEW DELHI: The return of the Tony Abbott-led Conservatives to power in Australia has put back on fast-track the talks for the nuclear deal. Australia, the world’s largest uranium reserves holder, and India have already held two rounds of negotiations for a ‘safeguard’ agreement that will enable uranium sales for India’s nuclear power plants. “The last round of talks was held in July and the next is scheduled for later this year,” Australian High Commissioner Patrick Suckling told media on the day Abbott announced his cabinet.  While senior officials in the Australian government have refused to put a timeframe for the agreement, they are hopeful that it would be concluded soon.

According to Suckling, setting a date is tough as sometimes even straight-looking issues become complex and drag issues. In 2011, the previous Labour government in Australia changed its long-held stance and reversed the ban on selling uranium to India that has not signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).

It was Abbott’s party that had decided to sell uranium to India in their last term in power and now they are keen to expedite the process. …….http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/india-australia-nuclear-agreement-back-on-track-with-government-change-in-australia/articleshow/22639037.cms

September 17, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | General News