By NNN-Bernama,
Melbourne : The Australian government will not lift its ban on uranium sales to India despite the move by supplier nations, including Australia, to end a 34-year embargo on nuclear trade with New Delhi.
The 45 countries which make up the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) moved on Saturday to endorse a waiver of its rules for India, which has so far refused to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Australia voted in support of the waiver, which allows the NSG to undertake trade with India so long as the technology and materials are not put to weapons-related uses.
Trade Minister Simon Crean told The Australian newspaper that the waiver decision was welcome because it led to a strengthening of the international security of nuclear facilities.
However, he said Canberra’s ban on yellowcake sales to India would remain in place as long as the country refused to sign the NPT.
Crean said the Australian government was committed to supplying uranium only to those countries which are party to the NPT.
“Australia will therefore not be supplying uranium to India while it is not a member of the NPT,” he added.