Terms finalized for Australian uranium exports to India

Following up on an agreement that was signed 12 years ago, Australia and India have finalized the details by which Australian uranium will be exported to India for peaceful purposes and under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The Administrative Arrangement to enable the long-term exports was reached at the Third India-Australia Annual Summit, held in Melbourne on July 9. The summit coincided with a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Expanding nuclear power program: India has long sought to import additional uranium for the country's expanding nuclear power program, which, according to the Indian government's Press Information Bureau, envisions "a significantly larger role for nuclear energy." The country currently operates 24 nuclear reactors at seven sites, with a total installed capacity of 8.78 GW. Ten reactors are currently under construction, with preproject activities ongoing for 10 more and plans being discussed for even more reactors in the future. Those plans include the operation of at least five locally built small modular reactors by 2033.

The government's Nuclear Energy Mission, outlined in its 2025-26 budget, has the goal "of achieving 100 GW of nuclear power generation capacity by 2047. The mission also supports India's broader goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2070." The government believes that "scaling nuclear capacity is . . . not just a strategic choice but a practical necessity for India's long-term energy security and clean power transition."

While India has limited uranium resources of its own, Australia is the world's fourth-largest uranium producer, after Kazakhstan, Canada, and Namibia. In September 2014, India and Australia signed a Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, which entered into force in November 2015. That agreement set the stage for the sale of Australian uranium to India.

However, Australia's Joint Standing Committee on Treaties recommended that uranium sales not begin until India met certain conditions related to regulations, inspections, and decommissioning. Australian authorities have determined that those conditions have been met with last week's finalization of the Administrative Arrangement.

Energy security and stability: Modi and Albanese both commented on the Administrative Arrangement. Modi said, "Today, we have signed an important agreement in the field of nuclear energy. This will open the way for uranium supplies from Australia to India and give new impetus to our clean energy objectives."

Albanese observed that "Australia's natural resources are vital for other countries' energy security and stability, and we look forward to becoming a reliable, trusted supplier of uranium to India."

Australia also reaffirmed its support for India's membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) at the India-Australia Annual Summit. The NSG is a group of 48 nuclear supplier countries that seeks to prevent nuclear weapons proliferation by implementing common guidelines for the export of nuclear materials, equipment, and technologies for peaceful purposes.

Far-reaching benefits: In addition to complementing India's Nuclear Energy Mission, the new Administrative Arrangement reinforces the government's Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, which was enacted in December 2025. That act allows Indian private companies and joint ventures to participate in the building, owning, and operation of nuclear power plants.

The long-term uranium supplies guaranteed by the Administrative Arrangement are expected to provide greater confidence to developers, investors, and industry to pursue nuclear projects while strengthening the fuel security that is needed to expand nuclear power in India.