Australia hints at uranium sale to India

Sydney, Apr 7 (UNI) Australian Prime Minister John Howard has indicated that his government may overcome policy hindrances to sell uranium to India.

''We have an historic opportunity because of the emergence of China - perhaps India can also come into this - to sell our resources, including uranium, to these rapidly developing countries that will form, or contribute the bulk of the world's middle class by 2010,'' Mr Howard told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio in Perth.

The indication comes soon after Australia, which has more than one third of global uranium reserves, signed an agreement to sell uranium to China.

The South Pacific country has been reluctant to sell the fuel to run Indian nuclear plants as, unlike China, the second most populous country of the world is not a signatory of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

The experts believe that Canberra is waiting for the approval of the US-Indian nuclear programme agreement by the US Congress which will make the US the first country to strike a nuclear deal with India.

The Australian Prime Minister has also given strong indication that the federal government may overrule a ban on uranium mining imposed by various opposition Labor-ruled states, in the country.

UNI XC SK PC1506