(a) whether the Union Government has discussed the matter of supply of Uranium by Australia during the recent visit of the Prime Minister of Australia;
(b) If so, the details thereof;
(c) whether Australia has expressed its unwillingness to provide Uranium unless India signs the Non-Proliferation Treaty; and
(d) If so, the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Union Government to ensure continuous supply of Uranium?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI ANAND SHARMA)
(a) - (d) During the visit of the Australian Prime Minister John Howard to India from March 5-9,
2006 it was agreed that officials of the two countries would be in touch to discuss civilian
nuclear cooperation. The Australian Prime Minister mentioned that the existing Australian policy
is to export uranium only to countries that are signatories of the Non Proliferation Treaty and
have entered into a safeguards agreement. An Australian delegation visited India on May 2-3,
2006 and held discussions with officials of the Ministry of External Affairs and Department of
Atomic Energy. The government is engaged in discussions with a number of countries to achieve
the objective of full international civil nuclear cooperation.