Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has hailed Australia's confirmation of administrative arrangements enabling uranium exports to India for peaceful purposes, describing the move as a reflection of bipartisan political support and a boost to India's long-term energy security.
Bipartisan Support for Uranium Exports
Speaking to ANI on Thursday, Morrison noted that the civil nuclear partnership agreement was originally signed under the Abbott government in 2015. "It is a bipartisan position now, by both major sides of politics in Australia, to support uranium sales to India. That's not a controversial issue in Australia anymore. I'm pleased that we will be extending that partnership through what was announced today," he said.
Nuclear Energy Key to India's Future
Morrison emphasised the significance of India's growing commitment to nuclear power. "I think what's probably more significant is the fact that India is making it very clear that nuclear is a big part of their energy future. Prime Minister Modi is leading the way in declaring a nuclear energy future for India, and that's an example for others to follow, including Australia," he added.
He stressed the link between energy security and broader national interests, stating that "energy security is tightly linked to economic security and indeed national security."
Joint Statement on Energy Security
The announcement came alongside a Joint Statement on Energy Security issued by India and Australia on Thursday. The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening energy security and resilient supply chains, while expressing deep concern over the ongoing situation in West Asia and its impact on global energy markets.
According to the joint statement, both sides shared "deep concern over the situation in the Middle East and its consequences for our region, including the prolonged impact of disruptions on energy, resources and other important commodities' supply chains and prices."
The statement confirmed that India and Australia had "finalised the administrative arrangements necessary to enable the export of Australian uranium to India for exclusively peaceful purposes and under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards," as provided under the 2015 Australia-India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement.
Commitment to Energy Transition and Regional Cooperation
Both countries committed to strengthening energy supply chain resilience through deeper regional cooperation, accelerating the energy transition, promoting renewable energy adoption, and maintaining open trade arrangements for energy products. They also stressed the growing importance of electrification, noting that "increasing electrification of respective energy systems will be a valuable source of energy security into the future."
Australia and India acknowledged the energy security challenges faced by Pacific Island countries, emphasising the importance of reliable energy supplies for the region's resilience and economic prosperity. They reaffirmed their commitment to "maintaining a stable, secure and reliable supply of energy products, such as coal, diesel, other liquid fuels and natural gas."
Both sides reiterated their commitment to accelerating the energy transition and strengthening cooperation on low-carbon fuels. Australia welcomed India's Global Biofuels Alliance initiative.
Calling for broader regional cooperation, the joint statement said: "Australia and India call on regional partners to join in ensuring global energy resource supply chains are kept open for the benefit of the security and prosperity of our peoples."
