India and Australia have finalised a landmark uranium export agreement, unlocking a long‑delayed nuclear partnership and marking one of the most significant energy developments of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Melbourne. The administrative arrangement, concluded during the 3rd India–Australia Annual Summit, operationalises a framework that had been stalled for nearly a decade due to diplomatic and legal hurdles.
The deal allows Australia — home to the world’s largest uranium reserves — to commercially export uranium to India for peaceful, civilian nuclear energy use. For India, which is targeting 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047, Australian uranium provides a reliable, long‑term fuel source essential for expanding its reactor fleet and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Officials said the agreement will help India increase the share of non‑fossil fuel power, supporting its clean‑energy transition and long‑term climate commitments. It also opens a new market for Australia’s resources sector, strengthening economic ties between the two Indo‑Pacific partners.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the relationship as one built on “growing trust and shared interests,” emphasising that Australia and India are “close partners and even closer friends.” Modi echoed the sentiment, saying the partnership offers “historic opportunities” across multiple sectors beyond nuclear energy. He encouraged Australian businesses to expand investments in India’s infrastructure and technology sectors.
The uranium deal also reinforces strategic cooperation within the Indo‑Pacific, where both nations are working together through platforms like the Quad to address regional challenges including energy security, emerging technologies, supply‑chain resilience, and maritime stability.
By resolving a decade‑long stalemate, the agreement establishes a critical energy corridor between Australia and India — one that could shape India’s nuclear expansion for decades.