India and Australia have taken a major step in strengthening their clean energy partnership after Australia and India sign a uranium export deal during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Melbourne. The agreement removes the final administrative hurdles that had delayed Australian uranium exports for nearly a decade, despite a civil nuclear cooperation pact being signed in 2014. Australia holds around 28% of the world’s known recoverable uranium resources, while India aims to expand its nuclear power capacity from 8.8 gigawatts (GW) today to 100 GW by 2047 as part of its long-term clean energy strategy.

The deal ensures that Australian uranium will be supplied exclusively for peaceful purposes under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, reinforcing both countries’ commitment to clean energy, energy security, and international nuclear safety standards.

India and Australia Finalize Long-Awaited Uranium Agreement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the agreement during the third India-Australia Annual Summit in Melbourne.

Speaking after the meeting, Modi said the nuclear energy agreement would provide fresh momentum to India’s clean energy ambitions by opening the door for Australian uranium supplies.

The administrative arrangement activates the broader civil nuclear cooperation framework agreed upon in 2014 but delayed over safeguards and verification mechanisms to ensure the uranium is used only for civilian energy generation.

Key Highlights of the Uranium Export Agreement

Why the Deal Matters for India

• India’s electricity demand continues to grow rapidly alongside its expanding economy and population of over 1.4 billion people.
• Although India has doubled its installed nuclear capacity over the past decade, nuclear energy still contributes only about 3% of the country’s electricity generation.
• The government has set an ambitious goal of installing 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, which could generate enough electricity to power nearly 60 million Indian homes annually.

Reliable uranium imports are considered essential to achieving this target while reducing dependence on coal and other fossil fuels.

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Australia Strengthens Its Role in Clean Energy Supply

Australia possesses the largest known uranium reserves in the world, yet it does not operate commercial nuclear power plants or produce nuclear weapons. Instead, all of its uranium production is exported under strict international safeguards.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the agreement would help India increase its share of non-fossil fuel electricity while supporting Australia’s position as a trusted supplier of energy resources.

The uranium supplied under the agreement will remain subject to IAEA monitoring and will only be used for peaceful civilian applications.

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More Than an Energy Partnership

Beyond nuclear cooperation, the summit focused on strengthening the broader Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations.

Both leaders reaffirmed cooperation across several sectors, including:

• Defence and Indo-Pacific security
• Maritime cooperation
• Critical minerals and energy security
• Trade and investment
• Emerging technologies

Australia also reiterated its strong support for India’s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), an international body that regulates global nuclear trade.

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What Comes Next?

While Australia and India sign a uranium export deal, they have not yet disclosed when exports will begin or the quantity of uranium that Australia will supply.

Even so, the deal marks a significant milestone in India-Australia relations. It strengthens India’s long-term energy security, supports its transition toward cleaner electricity generation, and deepens cooperation between two key Indo-Pacific partners.

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