By IANS,
New Delhi: Favouring a partnership with India in the energy sector, Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean Tuesday said his country did not supply uranium to India under its policy of non-proliferation.
“In the case of uranium, there is a fundamental policy mismatch between Australia and India. It is not a position directed against India. It is our position that we hold that we do not supply uranium to countries that are a non-signatory to the non-proliferation treaty (NPT),” Crean told a press conference.
At present, India is not a signatory to the NPT.
India’s Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said: “We are aware of Australia’s stand and the matter of supply of uranium stands nowhere as hindrance to bilateral trade relations between the two countries. The relations are based on trust and respect.”
“Today, we have civil nuclear energy cooperation with a large number of countries, including the United States, Russia, France and the UK. As far as energy security is concerned, we are looking at clean coal technology, renewable as well as conventional energy sources,” he added.