India, Australia weigh uranium deal during Gillard visit

(Reuters) - The Australian and Indian prime ministers held talks on Wednesday that could pave the way for Australia to sell uranium to energy-hungry India, after Canberra lifted a long-standing export ban that had strained bilateral relations.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard met Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on her first official visit to the country. The talks set the stage for negotiations to begin on a set of safeguards needed before uranium trade can start. Both sides played down the prospect of a quick deal.
India needs the uranium for its expanding civil nuclear power programme. The world's most populous democracy, which also has nuclear weapons, suffers chronic electricity shortages that hobble its economic growth, raise business costs and leave hundreds of millions of its people without daily power.

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