Australia will negotiate a nuclear safeguards agreement with the United Arab Emirates to pave the way for uranium sales.


Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said the UAE is planning to begin using nuclear power for electricity by 2017.

 

"The UAE is a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and has an Additional Protocol on strengthened safeguards with the International Atomic Energy Agency," Mr Rudd said.

 

"A bilateral safeguards agreement with Australia is a further strict non-proliferation condition that Australia requires for supplying uranium."

 

Mr Rudd said the agreement would open up an important additional market for Australian uranium producers.

 

"Australia welcomes the UAE's efforts to establish a responsible approach to nuclear power generation and hopes that it will serve as a model for other countries in the Middle East."