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Australia-India Uranium Deal Signed During Modi Melbourne Visit

Bloomberg Markets •
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Australia has finalized a landmark agreement to supply uranium to India for civilian power generation, marking a significant shift in bilateral nuclear cooperation. The deal was signed in Melbourne during a state visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ending years of Australian policy restrictions that barred exports to non-signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. India operates 24 reactors with eight more under construction, creating sustained demand for fuel that Australian miners are positioned to meet.

The agreement unlocks access to Australia's vast uranium reserves — the world's largest known recoverable resources — for a market that aims to triple nuclear capacity by 2032. Major producers including BHP, Rio Tinto, and Boss Energy stand to benefit from long-term supply contracts, though pricing terms and volumes remain undisclosed. India's nuclear liability law, which channels accident responsibility to operators rather than suppliers, had previously complicated commercial negotiations.

For investors, the deal signals reduced political risk for Australian uranium equities and a structural demand tailwind from Asia's fastest-growing nuclear program. However, commercial rollout depends on safeguards agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency and resolution of India's domestic fuel-cycle priorities, which emphasize fast-breeder technology using domestic thorium.