Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Thursday (July 9) that India signed a key uranium supply agreement during his visit to Australia.
The deal is expected to play a major role in advancing India’s nuclear energy program. Modi announced plans to significantly expand nuclear power generation in the coming years to meet the growing electricity demand of India, the world’s most populous country. Australia holds nearly 28% of the world’s total uranium reserves.
After meeting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Modi said, “Today we signed an important agreement on nuclear energy.”
He added, “This will open the way for uranium supply from Australia to India. At the same time, it will bring new momentum to our clean energy goals.”
A joint statement from the two countries said the arrangement would allow long-term uranium exports from Australia for peaceful purposes only, conducted under the safeguards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Albanese told reporters, “This arrangement will create an opportunity for uranium exports from Australia to India. It will help increase power generation capacity beyond fossil fuels.”
India and Australia signed a nuclear cooperation agreement in 2015 that laid the groundwork for uranium exports. However, legal complications meant trade between the two countries had remained largely stalled since then. On Thursday, Albanese also praised Modi’s leadership in further strengthening ties between the two countries.
“Prime Minister Modi, your leadership and your personal engagement with Australia are the key drivers of this change,” he said. Modi is scheduled to travel to New Zealand after concluding his visit to Australia.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report