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CAR criticizes Areva uranium mine deal
Bangui (AFP) Sept 19, 2007 The Central African Republic criticized Wednesday French nuclear group Areva's purchase of a uranium mining operation in the country's east. In July, Areva completed the purchase of Canadian uranium producer UraMin, with operations in South Africa, Namibia and in Bakouma in the Central African Republic. "This operation is irregular concerning Central African Republic legal arrangements and contractual causes," a government statement said. "Also, it has been carried out with disregard for the rights and interests of the people of the Central African Republic." The statement was read on national radio by government spokesman Aurelien-Simplice Zingas. He said the government had commissioned a team of national and international lawyers to reach a negotiated solution with Areva and UraMin. Areva has said UraMin's operations in South Africa, Namibia and the Central African Republic should lead to an increase in uranium output of more than 7,000 tonnes a year after 2012. Prior to the acquisition Areva said it planned to double uranium production to 12,000 tonnes by 2011-2012. The CAR last year signed a mining convention with UraMin related to operations in Bakouma, resulting in a more than 93-percent share for UraMin. President Francois Bozize met last weekend with Areva vice president Olivier Mallet, and state radio and television have this week broadcast reports featuring criticism of the Areva-UraMin deal. Accusations against France have also resurfaced involving radioactive contamination among the local population in relation to earlier mine activity. The presence of uranium at Bakouma was first brought to light in 1947, when the CAR was under French colonial rule. Deposits were exploited to a limited extent in the 1960s and 1970s, but never on a substantial commercial scale. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Civil Nuclear Energy Science, Technology and News Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com
Indian stalemate continues on US nuclear deal
New Delhi (AFP) Sept 19, 2007India's ruling Congress party held a new round of tense talks Wednesday with its communist allies, who are trying to block a nuclear energy deal with the United States, its leaders said. |
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