Uranium Insecurity in Africa

Uranium Insecurity in Africa

By Dr Arvind Kumar

Dangerous trends of unsafe mining of uranium prevail in some African countries endowed with uranium mines. A recent UPI news report based on diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks reveals abysmal safety and security standards in the African uranium mining industry. Prevalence of poor safety and security standards in a number of African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Niger, Burundi and others, with regard to uranium and nuclear facilities is a matter of grave concern. European, Chinese, Indian and South Korean companies are reportedly involved in the illegal extraction and smuggling of uranium from Africa. According to the news report, Uranium imported from African countries is used by most European reactors.

It is further revealed that Roger A. Meece, U.S. ambassador to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in a 2006 cable reported that external and internal security at CREN-K, a nuclear research centre in the DRC, was poor, leaving the facility vulnerable to theft. The US ambassador’s cable further reported: “Once inside the facility, no one controls the entrance to the nuclear reactor, although a key is required to enter the room. The fuel rod storage room, where the nine unused fuel rods are stored, was not locked, and the fuel rods are not kept in a separate locked container. All of Katanga Province in the DRC could be said to be somewhat radioactive." The possibility of uranium falling into the hands of terrorists cannot be ruled out and such eventualities can imperil entire humanity.