Argentina, S Africa plan to revive uranium enrichment programs

London (Platts)--30Aug2006

Argentina and South Africa have announced plans to revive uranium enrichment
programs mothballed since the last decade. Confirming a government
announcement August 23, Dario Jinchuk, head of international relations at the
Argentine Nuclear Energy Commission, CNEA, told Platts that CNEA hopes by the
end of this year to restart its pilot gaseous diffusion plant at Pilcaniyeu.
The goal, he said, is to have Argentina recognized as a commercial enricher on
the world market in the framework of international initiatives to organize
world nuclear fuel supply.

South Africa's energy minister, Buyelwa Sonjica, told a meeting of young
nuclear professionals August 25 that the government intends to conduct a
cost-benefit study aimed at reviving uranium enrichment at Pelindaba. Minister
of Public Enterprises Alec Erwin confirmed that August 28 but said the study
would take some time. Both of the initiatives came in the context of
announcements of expansion of nuclear generating capacity.

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