In the context of tightening pressure on Russia, Australia threatened to increase its sanctions against it as well. It could include halting uranium export sales. The foreign minister, Julie Bishop, has indicated that banning uranium sales is on the table. The finance minister, Mathias Cormann, told Sky News the draft is being discussed by the Cabinet. “Canberra is considering what other action we can sensibly take in terms of further increasing the level of sanctions on Russia for its policy in the Ukrainian conflict. Uranium deals could be added to the sanctions list,” Cormann said. This way Australia stands up to the one-year embargo imposed by Russia on its agricultural produce. Meanwhile, Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott promised farmers stricken by the Russian ban that they would be given access to alternative sales markets. For the reference, uranium is a non-agricultural stuff of a great strategic importance. Russia signed an agreement with Australia on the peaceful use of nuclear energy in 2007. In 2011, both sides agreed the guarantee mechanism of peaceful use of Australian uranium on Russian plants which received first uranium supplies in 2012. Under the guarantee document, Russia was allowed to export uranium from Australia and process it in Russian nuclear reactors. Amid the pending uranium ban, the Rosatom management stated that the uranium supply available in Russia is enough for 100 year ahead. “Responding to Canberra’s announcement of halting uranium supplies to Russia, our own reserves as well as supplies from Kazakhstan are enough for 100 years ahead,” Rosatom’s communique reads.
