France could kill U.K. N-plant supply

Press, 2 June 1981, Page 9

France could kill U.K. N-plant supply

NZPA London British nuclear power stations could face a threat to their uranium supplies if French President (Mr Francois Mitterrand) implemented a promise he made on South-West African uranium, the “Observer”, newspaper said yesterday. . The promise was made last week to the international conference on sanctions against South Africa in Paris, where a French Socialist Party official promised that the country would cut all trade links with SouthWest Africa, including uranium. Britain relied on France because although the British multinational, Rio Tinto Zinc, mined the Namibian uranium, part of the processing took place in France. It was turned into the gas, uranium hexafluoride, before ’ shipped to Britain, it was finally turned

into enriched fuel elements at British plants. The report said Britain depended on South-West Africa (Namibia) for 40 per cent of its total enriched uranium. In Melbourne, the Nuclear Free Pacific Campaign has welcomed the recent announcement by France that nuclear testing in the South Pacific had been temporarily suspended. A campaign spokeswoman, Christina Melaluka, said it was encouraging that nuclear tests had been suspended pending a full inquiry. “We should not lose sight of related issues, and make sure France accepts responsibility for its nuclear legacy after 15 years of testing in .the South Pacific. “The health of the people of French Polynesia and the social disruption caused by the influx of French military personnel are France’s resonsibility,” she said.