Sydney, July 26:

Australia is considering selling uranium to India to fuel the nuclear reactors needed to keep pace with its soaring electricity demand.

Foreign minister Alexander Downer is to put a submission to cabinet arguing that it doesn’t make sense to forbid uranium exports to India but not to China. The sticking point with India has been its refusal to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Earlier this year, Downer said it was possible Canberra could follow the lead of the US and skirt the NPT requirement by striking an agreement with India on nuclear safeguards.