AUSTRALIA is set to strike a controversial nuclear deal with Russia.
Uranium from Australian mines could be powering Russian nuclear plants by the end of the year, Federal Government officials have revealed.
The Howard Government is close to finalising a nuclear treaty with Vladimir Putin's regime to allow exports of Australian yellowcake and possibly enriched uranium.
And the Opposition claims the Government has plans to accept nuclear waste from overseas.
Australia has never exported yellowcake to its former Cold War adversary, although Russia has processed Australian uranium for other countries under a 1990 agreement.
John Carlson, the head of the Federal Government's Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office, said the bilateral treaty could be finalised by September: "The timetable for September is very tight but I believe we can do it."
Mr Carlson also made it clear to Russia that at some point, Australia would enrich its own uranium.
"It's too early to say whether we will or we will not participate in the Russian (enrichment) centre but I think our principle is to have enrichment in Australia in the future," he said.
Opposition Environment spokesman, Peter Garrett, said the treaty with Russia raised doubts about where the Government's uranium policy was heading.
"Since a senior Government official has now admitted that we will have nuclear enrichment in Australia, we also need to know what discussions and commitments were given to Russian officials or to any other countries concerning Australia being used as a dumping ground for the world's nuclear waste," Mr Garrett said yesterday.
There has been speculation an enrichment plant would cost $2.5 billion and could be at Caboolture in Queensland, Redcliffe in South Australia or outback WA "
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