PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Thursday raised the possibility of Australia exporting uranium and coal to the Ukraine, in an effort to relieve its reliance on Russia for gas.
Abbott said in a press conference that he had discussed the possibility of exports with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko during a visit to Melbourne.
“We did talk about the potential for Australian uranium and coal exports to Ukraine,” Abbott was quoted as saying.
“Australia is an energy superpower and energy security is very important to Ukraine, particularly given its current vulnerability to supply shocks. This would be good, should we be able to bring it about, for jobs and prosperity in Australia, as well as for jobs and prosperity in the Ukraine.”
In September this year, the federal government settled the terms for uranium trade with India, which was currently operating 21 nuclear power reactors and had six more under construction.