Australia to supply China with Uranium
Mr Downer said that he signed two agreements on supplying uranium to China, covering nuclear transfer and nuclear co-operation. Mr Downer said in a statement: ??These agreements will allow for the supply of Australian uranium to China??s nuclear power program, and co-operation in peaceful uses of nuclear technology.?
Ian Macfarlane, resources minister, said on Monday that it could be four years before Australia started shipping uranium to China.
Australia has 40 per cent of the world??s recoverable uranium reserves and exports the commodity to 35 countries, on condition it is not used for nuclear weapons. China needs greater quantities of uranium for the nuclear power generators it is building to meet rising energy demand.
Mr Downer said: ??These agreements establish strict safeguards arrangements and conditions to ensure Australian uranium supplied to China, and any collaborative programs in applications of nuclear technology, is used exclusively for peaceful purposes.?
Mr Downer said there were clear environmental benefits in China diversifying from fossil fuels to low greenhouse-emission technologies such as nuclear power.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/ffd097f6-c2...0779e2340.html
Isn't that just special??:cool:
