Australian uranium for Indian nuclear power plants

Australia will consider selling uranium to India during the ongoing state visit of Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard to India.

The uranium will be for civil nuclear use only. Australia had previously prevented exporting uranium to India as it has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, but Gillard reversed the policy late last year in an effort to improve ties with India.

"I anticipate that I will have some discussions on uranium," she said after arriving in India on Monday. "I formed the view as prime minister that it was appropriate for us to sell uranium to India, and that it had become an obstacle in our relationship that we were not."

Gillard added any agreement with India would guarantee that the uranium would only be used for peaceful processes and in safe conditions, and that a deal would be overseen by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"India has a national interest in making sure its nuclear programme is safe, and seen to be safe by the world," she said.