Australia-United States Agreement on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

Media release

Sydney

22 December 2010

Australia and the United States today brought into force a new agreement that cements cooperation by our two nations in the peaceful use of nuclear material and technology.

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said the new Agreement extended and enhanced arrangements governing the transfer and use of nuclear material between Australia and the United States, and for safeguards to prevent proliferation.

The United States has a central place in Australia's network of nuclear cooperation agreements. In 2009 Australia exported 36 per cent of its $1.16 billion global uranium sales to US power utilities.

“The Agreement reinforces the strong joint commitment of Australia and the United States to nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security.”

“Importantly, the Agreement formalised today explicitly adopts the International Atomic Energy Agency's Additional Protocol as part of the required safeguards framework.

“Under the Protocol, the IAEA is granted expanded rights of access to information and sites.

“Australia and the United States are 'walking the walk' when it comes to the advancing acceptance of the Additional Protocol as part of the internationally-recognised safeguards standard,” Mr Rudd said.

The new Agreement will be in force for an initial period of 30 years, but may be further extended. It replaces a 1979 agreement that was set to expire shortly.

Australia has a network of bilateral nuclear safeguards agreements, operated by the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office that regulates transfers of nuclear material to around forty countries.

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