India to purchase uranium from Australia under civil nuclear deal

Antalya: With all the formalities regarding the civil nuclear deal completed, India can now buy uranium from Australia to generate power for peaceful purpose.

The move makes India the first country to buy Australian uranium without being a signatory to the international nuclear non-proliferation treaty to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology.

The agreement bolsters the India-Australia bilateral relations and makes Canberra a long-term reliable supplier of uranium to New Delhi.

On the sidelines of the G20 summit, India and Australia completed all procedures of the civil nuclear deal signed by them in 2014.

"Another milestone achievement as the two PMs announced completion of procedures for #IndiaAustralia Civil Nuclear Agreement," Vikas Swarup, spokesperson of the external affairs ministry, tweeted soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull in this Mediterranean resort city.

"With the completion of procedures, including administrative arrangements, the #IndiaAustralia Civil Nuclear Agreement will enter into force," Swarup stated.

India and Australia had signed the agreement during the visit of then Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to New Delhi in September last year.

Five rounds of negotiations were held since 2012 before the milestone agreement was signed.

"PM @narendramodi and PM @TurnbullMalcolm discuss India-Australia relations in their first bilateral meeting," PMO India tweeted.

Turnbull assumed the office of the prime minister of Australia on September 15.

According to Swarup, Modi thanked Turnbull and "described the nuclear agreement as a milestone and source of trust and confidence".

In April, India signed another civil agreement with Canada during Modi's visit to that country.

(Picture courtesy: www.1000flags.co.uk)