Australia and India have signed a landmark uranium deal, cementing a major energy security and defence partnership as both nations strengthen cooperation on energy security and supply chain resilience.
The agreement activates a pathway for uranium exports under the existing 2015 Australia–India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement.
The arrangement strictly mandates that Australian uranium will be utilised solely for peaceful purposes to assist India in boosting its non-fossil fuel power capacity, particularly as the country faces soaring electricity demands from power-intensive industries like data centres.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese noted India’s importance as an energy partner.
“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,” he said.
India is Australia’s fourth largest source of refined petroleum and Australia is a longstanding supplier of coal and liquified natural gas to India.
The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) welcomed the export pathway, noting that India’s massive nuclear expansion offers a generational opportunity for Australian resources.
“This is great news for Australia’s uranium industry and a clear reminder to the jurisdictions that currently have uranium mining bans, that it is time to rethink and overturn those bans,” AMEC CEO Warren Pearce said.
He argued that Australia should not be “watching from the sidelines” while competitor nations capitalise on the rising global demand for low-emissions energy.
“We know Australia has world-class uranium resources, with strong safeguards and a proven mining industry. Our uranium members should be part of a responsible, long-term supply chain that helps trusted trading partners meet growing energy demands,” he added.
Beyond the uranium breakthrough, Albanese and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi formalised a broader Joint Statement on Energy Security.
The comprehensive strategy outlines closer cooperation on critical minerals through a science-exchange framework between Geoscience Australia and the Geological Survey of India, alongside ongoing trade in traditional energy commodities, including coal, diesel, and natural gas.
The prime ministers also lauded advancements under the India–Australia Renewable Energy Partnership, notably celebrating the opening of a new Rooftop Solar Training Academy in Gujarat to export Australian technical expertise directly to India’s growing solar workforce.
