South Australia Offers Clean Energy And Water To India

NEW DELHI: Located in the underbelly of Australia, and holding nearly a quarter of the world's uranium reserves, the Australian province of South Australia, whose capital is Adelaide, is looking to help India boost its supplies of clean energy and water.

"South Australia has more than 23 percent of global identified uranium resources and we are definitely looking at supplying India with fuel required for producing clean energy, South Australia's Minister for Investment, Trade and Defence Industries Martin Hamilton-Smith told IANS in an interview during a visit here.

India and Australia signed an MoU for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy during the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot's visit to India in September last year, which has opened the way for uranium supplies to this country. Australia has world's largest reserves of recoverable uranium, while South Australia accounts for 80 percent of it.

"We're waiting for national governments' negotiators to work out the administrative arrangement to begin supplying . Only after signing the contractual agreements, can the Australian supply of uranium come to India," Hamilton-Smith said.

Situated as the "gateway" to the country, and with geographical similarities with India, South Australia is also looking share its expertise in the sphere of water management.

"Water and its management is a critical factor underpinning South Australia's economy, environment and lifestyle and the state has become a world-class export oriented hub for water technology," Hamilton-Smith said.