Date:22/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/22/stories/2006112201391500.htm

International

Australia must lift curbs on uranium export: report

"Restriction on opening more than three mines in the country should go"

The country has almost 40 % of known uranium reserves

Enrichment of ore could add $1.4 billion to the industry

CANBERRA: Australia, which has the world's largest deposits of uranium, should quickly lift restrictions on export and enrichment of the valuable element, a Government report said on Tuesday.

Canberra is considering selling uranium to India despite New Delhi's refusal to sign the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.

The report on the uranium industry said the federal and state Governments should lift a long-standing restriction on opening more than the current three mines in the nation.

"Consultations revealed support for the expansion of Australian mining and export of uranium," the report said.

"Skill shortages and Government policies restricting the growth of the industry should be urgently addressed," it said. — AP