Confidence on supply of uranium

Press, 10 April 1978, Page 8

Confidence on supply of uranium

NZPA-Reuter Copenhagen

Mr Roy Jenkins, president of the Common Market Commission, says he is reasonably sure the European Community can avoid a threatened embargo on American uranium supplies. But he told a press conference at the end of the Common Market Summit meet.ng in Copenhagen that the Community might not be, able to meet today’s deadline for confirming its readiness 1 to hold talks with the United States on revised nuclear safeguards. Under the Nuclear Non-, proliferation Act, signed by! President Jimmy Carter last! month, the Nine have until today to argree to such talks I or face a possible embargo on- United States uranium deliveries.. Euratom, the Community’s nuclear body, depends en-l tirely on United States sup-; plies for its highly-enriched/ research-grade uranium, and: obtains about half its needs; for energy from the samel source. Eight of the E.E.C. members were ready to accede to the American demand, but, France opposed it on prin-j ciple, saying it called into; question an existing agree-i ment which runs until 1995. I