Tuesday, 4 September, 2007

The West

Prime Minister John Howard has refused to confirm whether Australia and Russia will use this week’s APEC summit to announce a bilateral uranium sales deal.

A Russian official told Reuters last week the former Soviet state would sign an agreement with Australia on the domestic use of nuclear energy this week, in a step that could allow mining companies to export Australian uranium to Russia.

“The agreement will be signed during President (Vladimir) Putin’s trip to Australia,” a Russian official close to the situation said.

But Mr Howard was not giving away any details today.

“I’m not going to speculate on all the stuff in the papers on deals with different countries,” Mr Howard told Sky News.

“If there are any arrangements announced, then I’m going to explain them in detail when those arrangements are announced.

“I find this piecemeal response to speculation not very useful.”

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer last month said Australian uranium could feed Russian nuclear reactors as early as next year, with arrangements to be signed during the APEC leaders’ forum in Sydney.

Australia already sells uranium to China and has reached an in-principle agreement to sell uranium to India, which is not a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.