Uranium supply to India will be demand based: Australia

[Zebra]

PTI
Melbourne, May 17, 2012

Australia's uranium supply to India will be demand based once the approvals for the yellow cake exports to New Delhi are finalised, Australia energy minister Martin Ferguson has said.
"It (uranium supply) will be demand based. The supply once approved for exports will be of a
commercial nature between the Australian uranium and mining industry and potential customers in India," Ferguson told PTI.

Asked when the uranium exports will begin, Ferguson said "We don't put a timeframe. This is about a negotiation of a product between Australia and India."

"The issue is to get it right to resource negotiations and to make sure that we take the respective community with it in terms of their confidence about the fact that the uranium will be used safely."

Australia's uranium reserves are the world's largest, with 23% of the total.

Ferguson, a Labor party leader who had earlier advocated uranium sale to India, on Wednesday become the first politician to receive the Ashoka Medal, the first of its kind award instituted by Australia India Business Council - Victoria and Australia India Institute (AII), for his outstanding contribution made towards India Australia relations in the last twelve months.

He said that Australian uranium industry was growing and the amount to be sold to countries like India would be based on demand and between the buyers and sellers.

In December last year, Labor party, led by Julia Gillard, cleared the way for Australian uranium to be exported to India after a strong debate on the floor of the party's 46th national conference.

Despite resistance from opponents, the landmark policy change was carried by a majority of delegates, paving the way for the first Australian country-to-country agreement to sell yellow cake to a nation outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Ferguson, a strong supporter of the uranium industry, had been lobbying within the government for Labor to re-instate the Howard policy of selling uranium to India.

Uranium supply to India will be demand based: Australia - Hindustan Times

 

[nitesh]

So the yellow cake is coming, and as much as we demand it

 

[Virendra]

Uranium supply to India will be demand based : Australia

Thank you, that is all we wanted
Subtle way to say, "We will provide Uranium to India, opposite the approach till now of denying it"

 

[nrj]

So the Chinese honeymoon is officially over !

 

[SLASH]

It was horrible seeing Rudd trying to appease China at every step few years ago. Good to see Julia Gillard showing more balls than Rudd.

 

[nrj]

More salt on burning wounds!


Uranium sale: Australia says cases of India, Pak different

Amid Pakistan's demand that it be given access to Australian uranium for which India has been granted green light, Australia has said it believes Islamabad is not eligible to buy the yellow cake from it.

"India has an exemption from Nuclear Suppliers Group, which does not apply to Pakistan," outgoing Australian High Commissioner Tim George said during his farewell news conference yesterday.

Pakistan has repeatedly sought access to Australian uranium after Canberra approved sales to New Delhi.

Pakistan has contended that since Australia has lifted its ban for a country that has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, it too should be allowed to benefit from the concession.

However, George was quoted by the media as saying that the cases of India and Pakistan were different.

The offer of sale of uranium to India was meant to boost trade and enhance Australia's relationship with that country, he said.

George said Australia has been pursuing a policy of strengthening its relationship with Pakistan.

He said he was heartened to see "the deepening of our engagement, which is based on a productive, friendly and mutually beneficial partnership."

Uranium sale: Australia says cases of India, Pak different