Introduction
On 4 December 2011, Australia's ruling Labor party voted to
end the country's ban on selling uranium to India, which means
that Australia will be well-placed to feed India's increasing
appetite for uranium. India currently plans to build 63 nuclear
power plants in addition to the 20 it already has in operation and
to provide 25% of its electricity needs from nuclear power by 2025.
This will result in India's demand for uranium increasing
significantly from the 1305 tonnes it required in 2011.
It is expected that exports from Australia to India will be made
subject to stringent conditions, including strict adherence to
International Atomic Energy Agency arrangements and strong
bilateral undertakings and measures that will provide assurances
that Australian uranium will be used only for peaceful purposes.
Ultimately, the change in policy will mean that exports of uranium
from Australia to India will become a reality leading to better
relations and
