Australia set to clear uranium supply to India

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trip to Australia later this week, Deputy Premier of South Australia province John Rau has said the Australian federal government is engaged in finalising the agreement to allow uranium shipments to India.

"Finalisation of that (bilateral agreement for uranium shipment) is going on within diplomatic channels," Rau said here, according to a release Tuesday by the South Australia Tourism Commission

Rau said the uranium miners of Australia would be "happy to have joint ventures with India , now that policy changes" enabling shipment of the nuclear fuel, it added.

"Australia has liberalised the policy regarding shipment of uranium to India and does not insist any more on signing of the non-proliferation treaty," the statement said.

Australia is a large producer of uranium, accounting for 81 percent of the total global output.

During a visit here in August, South Australian Premier Jay Weatherhill evinced keen interest in a long-term partnership with India.

He also said his government would propose a plan to clean the Ganga river, which is considered sacred by Hindus.

"We have the expertise to clean rivers and we are interested in taking up the 'Clean Ganga' project. We are also planning to meet India's water resources ministry and the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs to give them our proposal," said Weatherhill during a promotional campaign of the South Australian government for the 2015 Cricket World Cup.