longbrained
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In a recent development the government of Namibia has said that it wants to take over Iran's 15% share of the world's second largest Uranium mine in that country amid US concerns.
If that happens Iran will lose its ownership of the mine which produces something like 5000 tonnes of Uranium each year.
Issues at Rössing Uranium Mine, Namibia
Iran's stake in Rössing uranium mine
Namibian government willing to take over Iran's shares in Rössing Uranium
A high-level Namibian delegation led by Foreign Affairs Minister Utoni Nujoma met its Iranian counterparts in Tehran in December to discuss Rössing Uranium's full compliance with the United Nations sanctions against companies in which the Iranian Foreign Investment Company (IFIC) has shares. During that visit the two governments agreed that legal and technical teams from both countries would meet in Namibia as a matter of urgency to discuss and finalise the details of the draft agreement. "We are still waiting for the Iranian team to visit Namibia and reminded them again about three weeks ago," Mines and Energy Minister Isak Katali told The Namibian this week.
Katali shed more light on the proposal, indicating that Government also wants to have an interest in Rössing Uranium. "Government [through Epangelo Mining ] is willing to take over the Iranian shares but we can only do it if they agree to it." In terms of the proposed agreement the Namibian government, if Iran agrees, will take over in trust all future acquisitions and or investments in Rössing Uranium for the duration of UN Security Council sanctions. (The Namibian Apr. 18, 2012)
Iran's stake in Rössing uranium mine causing headaches in view of U.N. sanctions
A Namibian uranium mine majority-owned by Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto said it is considering what to do with a stake held by the Iranian government in light of the latest U.N. sanctions. Since 1975 Iran has owned a 15 percent stake in the Rössing Uranium Mine.
U.N. Security Council resolution 1929 , adopted in June, bans the sale of any stakes in uranium mines to Iran, as well as shares in any commercial operations linked to the production of nuclear materials or technology. It also says that "all states shall prohibit such investment." Council diplomats told Reuters that the latest steps clearly ban the sale of new stakes to Iran but are less clear on whether any previously held Iranian stakes in uranium mines or other nuclear-related operations should be divested.
"Rössing Uranium Limited is in consultation with the Government of Namibia to find a solution to deal with the U.N. Resolution requirements and chart the way forward," Jerome Mutumba, manager for corporate communications and external relations, said in a letter to Reuters dated on Friday (Oct. 15). (The Namibian Oct. 19, 2010)
In a statement dated Nov. 4, 2010, Rio Tinto declared it is its position "that it believes to be complying with the current United Nations requirements."
U.S. concerned about trafficking of uranium mined at Rössing
The White House force to prevent nuclear and radiological materials from falling into the wrong hands, the Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI), has told Rio Tinto Rössing Uranium to sharpen its security measures following the arrest last September of three suspects, one a Namibian Defence Force (NDF) member, for possessing and allegedly wanting to deal in nearly 170 kg of uranium oxide.
The US follows Rössing Uranium, in which the government of Iran owns 15 per cent of the shares, with a keen eye. (Namibian Feb. 3, 2010)
If that happens Iran will lose its ownership of the mine which produces something like 5000 tonnes of Uranium each year.
Issues at Rössing Uranium Mine, Namibia
Iran's stake in Rössing uranium mine
Namibian government willing to take over Iran's shares in Rössing Uranium
A high-level Namibian delegation led by Foreign Affairs Minister Utoni Nujoma met its Iranian counterparts in Tehran in December to discuss Rössing Uranium's full compliance with the United Nations sanctions against companies in which the Iranian Foreign Investment Company (IFIC) has shares. During that visit the two governments agreed that legal and technical teams from both countries would meet in Namibia as a matter of urgency to discuss and finalise the details of the draft agreement. "We are still waiting for the Iranian team to visit Namibia and reminded them again about three weeks ago," Mines and Energy Minister Isak Katali told The Namibian this week.
Katali shed more light on the proposal, indicating that Government also wants to have an interest in Rössing Uranium. "Government [through Epangelo Mining ] is willing to take over the Iranian shares but we can only do it if they agree to it." In terms of the proposed agreement the Namibian government, if Iran agrees, will take over in trust all future acquisitions and or investments in Rössing Uranium for the duration of UN Security Council sanctions. (The Namibian Apr. 18, 2012)
Iran's stake in Rössing uranium mine causing headaches in view of U.N. sanctions
A Namibian uranium mine majority-owned by Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto said it is considering what to do with a stake held by the Iranian government in light of the latest U.N. sanctions. Since 1975 Iran has owned a 15 percent stake in the Rössing Uranium Mine.
U.N. Security Council resolution 1929 , adopted in June, bans the sale of any stakes in uranium mines to Iran, as well as shares in any commercial operations linked to the production of nuclear materials or technology. It also says that "all states shall prohibit such investment." Council diplomats told Reuters that the latest steps clearly ban the sale of new stakes to Iran but are less clear on whether any previously held Iranian stakes in uranium mines or other nuclear-related operations should be divested.
"Rössing Uranium Limited is in consultation with the Government of Namibia to find a solution to deal with the U.N. Resolution requirements and chart the way forward," Jerome Mutumba, manager for corporate communications and external relations, said in a letter to Reuters dated on Friday (Oct. 15). (The Namibian Oct. 19, 2010)
In a statement dated Nov. 4, 2010, Rio Tinto declared it is its position "that it believes to be complying with the current United Nations requirements."
U.S. concerned about trafficking of uranium mined at Rössing
The White House force to prevent nuclear and radiological materials from falling into the wrong hands, the Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI), has told Rio Tinto Rössing Uranium to sharpen its security measures following the arrest last September of three suspects, one a Namibian Defence Force (NDF) member, for possessing and allegedly wanting to deal in nearly 170 kg of uranium oxide.
The US follows Rössing Uranium, in which the government of Iran owns 15 per cent of the shares, with a keen eye. (Namibian Feb. 3, 2010)
