India-Australia Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement
India and Australia have finalized an Administrative Arrangement under their Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, enabling long-term exports of Australian uranium to India for peaceful purposes under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. The arrangement was signed during the Third India–Australia Annual Summit held in Melbourne on 9 July 2026. Australia possesses the largest uranium resources globally, accounting for more than one-third of the global total, and this arrangement provides assured access to Australian uranium for India's expanding nuclear power programme.
India's Nuclear Energy Landscape
India currently operates 24 nuclear power reactors across seven sites with a total installed capacity of 8.78 Gigawatt (GW). Ten more reactor units with a combined capacity of 8000 Megawatt (MW) are under construction, with pre-project activities underway for 10 additional reactors. These reactors include Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs), and Light Water Reactors (LWRs). India primarily uses natural uranium fuel to run its PHWRs, with plutonium produced as a byproduct. The government has allocated ₹20,000 crore in the Union Budget 2025–26 for research, design, development, and deployment of indigenous Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), aiming to operationalize at least five indigenous SMRs by 2033. India's long-term strategy focuses on utilizing its abundant thorium reserves through Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs), with the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam attaining first criticality on 6 April 2026.
Strategic Significance and Energy Security
The Administrative Arrangement supports India's Nuclear Energy Mission targeting 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047 and reinforces the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act enacted in December 2025. The SHANTI Act enables participation by Indian private companies and joint ventures in building, owning, and operating nuclear power plants. Assured long-term uranium supplies provide greater confidence to developers, investors, and industry, supporting timely project implementation. The arrangement diversifies India's uranium imports and strengthens energy security by providing dependable baseload generation that complements variable renewable energy sources. It also supports India's climate commitments, including achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and increasing the share of non-fossil capacity in its energy mix.
Bilateral Cooperation and International Context
The Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement between India and Australia was originally signed in September 2014 and entered into force in November 2015. The newly finalized Administrative Arrangement establishes procedures for implementing the Agreement and provides a stable, long-term framework for cooperation between both governments and industry. Australia reaffirmed its support for India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), a voluntary grouping of 48 nuclear supplier countries that seeks to prevent nuclear weapons proliferation. India has signed Inter Governmental Agreements (IGA) with 18 countries on Civil Nuclear Cooperation for peaceful purposes. The arrangement expands the strategic dimension of the India–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, adding a robust energy pillar to cooperation spanning trade, defence, critical minerals, technology, and Indo-Pacific security.