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| Australia could be selling uranium to India 'within a decade' | | |
MELBOURNE, FEB 9
Australia could be selling uranium to India within a decade in view of its nuclear credentials, one of the country's chief nuclear advisers said here today.
"I expect that India could join the nations to which we export (uranium) in the not too distant future," Ziggy Switkowski, who headed the government's nuclear task force, said while praising New Delhi's nuclear credentials.
The official said while it was a political decision, it may not be too long before India follows in the footsteps of China, which last year got the green light to buy Australian uranium.
Australia has so far refused to consider selling Uranium to India because it is not a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT). China is a party to the treaty.
"It is dependent on the working out of the political process.
"But if it's going to happen, I would expect it to happen before the end of the decade," Switkowski was quoted as saying by AAP after an address to the Uranium Club of Australia here.
"My understanding is that there has been a lot of progress in the last 12 months."
While India had not signed the NPT, Switkowski said it had good credentials.
"India's credentials are well regarded in Australia and ... Therefore it may mean they emerge eventually as a potential market for Australian uranium," he said.
Australia has faced pressure from Washington and New Delhi to alter its line after the signing of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal.
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