RE: planned to triple its investment in uranium mining to take advantage of higher prices for the metal and a revival in nuclear power projects -
Why higher uranium prices ? -
Ex.... Areva has been operating two uranium mines in Niger for 40 years and is the west African country's biggest private employer -
President Mamadou Tandja has accused it of backing the MJC in a bid to keep out competition -
Areva has denied the accusations - and said last week that its contracts with Niamey - had been renewed -
The row prompted talks at the weekend in Niamey - between French Cooperation Minister Jean-Marie Bockel - and Niger officials, including Tandja -
"I'm very satisfied with the exchange I had with President Tandja on a whole range of subjects including Areva, where very significant progress has been made towards overcoming a certain number of points of incomprehension," Bockel said on Saturday.
"The fact the contracts were renewed... shows that a first step has been made and that things are going in the right direction."
He added: "It's clear that Areva does not support - and never has supported the rebellion -
"There may have been the odd gaffe committed - on the ground -
We must now do everything to ensure there is - no more ambiguity between Areva and Niger."
Following the meeting between Tandja and Bockel, Mindaoudou told journalists the revamped contract with Areva obliges the company to sell - its uranium at a higher price -
The new price – 40,000 CFA francs, or 60.98 euros (84 dollars) a kilo – represents a significant increase over the old price of 27,300 CFA but is still well below - the current international rate.
The increase, retroactive to January 1, is only valid until the end of 2007, Mindaoudou said - late Friday.
In addition, for the first time Niger will be allowed - to sell directly on its own account 300 tonnes of uranium - 100 this year and 200 in early 2008.
Further negotiations with Areva will determine new prices - for 2008 and beyond, she said.
Prime Minister Seini Oumarou had earlier criticised - the sale price of uranium that Areva fixes, commenting on state television that a kilo currently sells - for 122,000 CFA francs (186 euros) on - the international market.
Mindaouodou said that in future Areva would be treated - like any other mining company in its search - for new deposits in Niger, which is the world's - third largest producer of uranium with some - nine percent of the market.
"If Areva fulfils the conditions" laid down by Niger, "it will be granted permits, if not, it will not," she said. – AFP
We are still in the early stages of a worldwide nuclear energy blast off (I nearly said explosion!!) with new - nuclear power stations under construction and an ever-increasing number in the planning stages -
There remains a significant shortfall between the amount - of uranium being mined and projected requirements -
There is recognition that nuclear energy is the only - practical alternative to diminishing and ever more - expensive fossil fuels in producing electricity and of course in alleviating the global warming problem -
Australia is relaxing its prohibition on the number - of uranium mines allowed to operate -
The USA has introduced a package of incentives to encourage its utilities to move over to nuclear powered electricity - generation -
China is on record as stating it wants to generate most, if not all, of its growing electricity needs from nuclear power and has already taken great strides towards this goal -
Despite the usual prevarication from the UK´s prime minister, that country seems to be the only significant trading - nation not to have embraced the new nuclear age -
We believe that the open trading of uranium futures is most likely on the long term to give an added boost to - the upward price momentum of the metal and widen interest in the producers and those companies involved in - nuclear technology -
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