Saturday, 28 April, 2007

The Border Morning Mail

AS Labor grapples with whether to overturn a 25-year ban on new uranium mines, the Federal Government is considering selling yellowcake to a one-time cold war enemy.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer yesterday revealed Australia may soon be selling uranium to Russia after discussions this week on upgrading a nuclear safeguards agreement between the two countries.

The discussions centred on expanding a 1990 agreement which allowed Australian uranium to be processed in Russia by third party countries, but prevented Russia from using Australian supplies of the fuel itself.

“The proposed new agreement would allow Australian uranium producers to supply Russia’s nuclear power industry, and would retain and build on the strict safeguards conditions contained in the current agreement,” Mr Downer said.

Australia has had a change of heart after Russia last year announced plans to separate its military and civilian nuclear programs, bringing the latter under the watch of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

It comes as Labor approaches a difficult ideological debate at its national conference on whether to scrap a policy preventing the opening of new uranium mines.