India, Australia operationalise uranium export framework for civil nuclear cooperation
India and Australia have finalised the administrative arrangements required to enable the export of Australian uranium to India for exclusively peaceful purposes under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, according to a joint statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office following bilateral discussions.
The arrangements have been finalised under the Australia-India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, signed in 2014 and in force since 2015. The move operationalises the framework for long-term commercial supplies of Australian uranium to support India’s civil nuclear power programme.
The joint statement reaffirmed that uranium exports will be used only for peaceful purposes and remain subject to IAEA safeguards in accordance with the bilateral agreement.
Beyond civil nuclear cooperation, the two countries agreed to strengthen bilateral energy trade and investment through the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), ongoing negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), and other bilateral mechanisms.
Recognising Australia as a major supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to India and India as a supplier of liquid fuels and downstream petroleum products to Australia, both sides committed to supporting stable and reliable energy trade. They also reaffirmed their commitment to secure supplies of coal, diesel, liquid fuels and natural gas while expanding cooperation on low-carbon fuels.
The joint statement also highlighted the need to strengthen energy supply chain resilience, promote renewable energy deployment and maintain open, rules-based trade. Both countries expressed concern over the impact of disruptions in the Middle East on global energy supply chains and called for greater regional cooperation to keep energy markets open and resilient.
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