As the energy demand in the country was growing by leaps and bounds, the India-United States nuclear deal was important to meet the nation's energy needs and get access to uranium from abroad, Minister of State for Power Jairam Ramesh told journalists on the sidelines of a NTPC function here on Monday. Mr. Ramesh said the country faced severe uranium shortage and its nuclear plants were running at only 50 per cent capacity. To get access to uranium reserves and sources around the world, it was important that the deal materialised.