South Africa is investigating the possibility of enriching uranium locally, but there is ”no ways” it will produce nuclear weapons from the enriched material, the government said on Thursday.
Briefing the media at Parliament following Cabinet’s meeting on Wednesday, government communications head Themba Maseko said concerns about the initiative are unfounded.
”One of the concerns raised was whether we will end up producing nuclear weapons. It’s important for everyone to understand that there is no intention, and there is no ways this government will enrich uranium for the purposes of developing nuclear weapons.”
He said the government’s policy is firm on this matter: uranium enrichment is being looked at ”simply to meet our future energy requirements”.
There is nothing unique and unusual about this.
”Many countries around the world … are exploring this particular avenue for meeting their energy requirements in the future, and … the legal framework internationally allows us to explore this … for peaceful means.
”The fact that we are members of the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] clearly is an indication that we understand the protocols, and will make sure we operate within the framework of those protocols.”
Maseko said a feasibility study will be conducted, and when it is concluded, it will be brought back to Cabinet for a final decision.
He was not able to offer a timeframe for this, saying he had not been briefed on this.
Last month, Minister of Minerals and Energy Buyelwa Sonjica announced government was looking at the feasibility of enriching uranium in South Africa. — Sapa