Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday welcomed the growing strategic partnership between India and Australia after the two countries signed a landmark agreement on the supply of uranium and critical minerals. He said the agreements would strengthen India's strategic security and support its transition towards clean energy.
PM Modi made the remarks during a joint media briefing with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese following bilateral talks.
Uranium deal to boost India's clean energy goals
PM Modi described the nuclear energy agreement as a major milestone in India-Australia relations. He said the deal would allow Australia to supply uranium to India and help the country expand its clean energy programme.
“In the nuclear energy sector, we have signed an important agreement today. This will pave the way for uranium supply from Australia to India, and this will give new strengthen to our aim for clean energy. Our cooperation in the area of critical minerals is important for our strategic security and clean energy transition. We will also work on a critical minerals corridor,” said Modi in a media briefing beside Australian PM Anthony Albanese.
The Prime Minister said the agreement would deepen cooperation in nuclear energy while helping India reduce its dependence on conventional sources of power.
Addressing the joint press meet with PM Albanese.@AlboMP https://t.co/CZ96A4au2x
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 9, 2026
India targets 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047
Modi said India and Australia have jointly set a target of achieving 100 gigawatts of nuclear energy capacity by 2047. He noted that Australia's vast uranium reserves make it a valuable partner in supporting India's long-term nuclear energy ambitions and its shift towards cleaner energy sources.
The agreement is expected to strengthen energy security while supporting India's commitment to lower carbon emissions.
Australia backs India's Nuclear Suppliers' Group bid
Australia once again expressed strong support for India's membership in the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG).
According to the joint statement released after the talks, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined PM Modi in welcoming the agreement for long-term Australian uranium exports to India for civilian purposes.
The leaders said the agreement marks an important step in expanding bilateral cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Focus on critical minerals and secure supply chains
The joint statement also highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation in critical minerals, which are essential for clean energy technologies, advanced manufacturing and strategic industries.
Both leaders called for closer collaboration to build secure and resilient supply chains at both bilateral and multilateral levels.
They stressed the need for stronger partnerships between government agencies, private companies and research institutions in both countries.
These partnerships will encourage investment, support long-term supply agreements and expand mineral processing and value-addition capabilities.
“The Leaders affirmed that transparent, secure and resilient supply chains are central to our economic security. They acknowledged the importance of working together to support supply chain collaboration, particularly for energy, and critical minerals, including through bilateral initiatives and multilateral fora,” the joint statement further said.
Energy partnership to expand further
The two leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening energy cooperation beyond nuclear power.
They recognised Australia's role as a major supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to India. They also acknowledged India's growing role as an important supplier of liquid fuels and downstream petroleum products to Australia.
Both countries agreed to ensure the uninterrupted flow of energy products and further expand bilateral energy trade.
“Australia and India commit to support the continued flow of energy products and further enhance the energy trade between our two countries. Australia and India also reiterate the importance of encouraging investment opportunities across the energy value chain,” the statement further read.
Partnership enters a new phase
The latest agreements mark another significant step in the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. By expanding cooperation in uranium, critical minerals and energy security, both countries aim to strengthen economic resilience, enhance strategic cooperation and support the global transition to cleaner sources of energy.