Australia and India to cooperate in nuclear power

Australia is set to start civil nuclear cooperation talks with India.

"We shall be commencing negotiations on a civil nuclear energy cooperation agreement in March 2013," said India's External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.

"Our relations are based on shared interests and mutual benefit in political and security areas, our expanding economic and trade ties, our cooperation in the energy and resources sectors, collaboration in science and technology and research, and our growing people-to-people links."

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr, along with Khurshid, recently held the 8th round of the framework dialogue in New Delhi, which they say is an integral component of the partnership between the two countries.
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"India is a key part of Australia's future," Carr remarked.

The two countries have said that the formal negotiations are expected to last up to two years.

In October 2012, Australia signed an agreement to open negotiations to export uranium fuel to India, in a move to improve its ties with one of the largest Asian economies.

India currently produces less than 3% of its energy from its existing nuclear power plants and intends to raise the figure to 25% by 2050.

Australia is said to be the world's third largest uranium producer with an estimated 23% reserves.

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