Indo-Aus nuke pact likely to be inked during Aus PM's visit

"A civil nuclear pact is likely to be signed during the three-day visit of the Australian Prime Minister," official sources said. India has been pushing for civil nuclear cooperation with Australia known for having one of the world's largest uranium resources.

In December last year, Australia's ruling Labour Party led by Gillard cleared the way for export of Australian uranium to India after a strong debate on the floor of the party's 46th national conference.

Despite resistance from opponents, the landmark policy change was carried out, paving the way for the first Australian country-to-country agreement to sell the yellow cake to a country outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Earlier this year, Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr had conveyed to his Indian counterpart S M Krishna that they are in the process of working out internal arrangements which will enable them to give effect to this policy of the Labour Party and as a government they will finalise this (arrangement).

India expects to have 20,000 MW nuclear capacity by 2020 and 63,000 MW by 2032 for its nuclear power programme. The country aims to supply 25 percent of its electricity from nuclear power by 2050 and for that to happen, India needs uranium, a key fuel for nuclear power generation.

Apart from civil nuclear cooperation, ways to boost bilateral trade ties and other other strategic issues are expected to be discussed during the Gillard's visit.