Australia to Export Uranium To China

[Papewaio]

China to dig for uranium in Australia

Mr Wen's visit, the first by a Chinese premier for 18 years, is expected to reinforce the upward thrust in uranium driven share prices.

Under the nuclear safeguards agreement, Australia will state that it is satisfied with Beijing's guarantees that its uranium sales to China will be used for peaceful purposes only, and that the deal conforms to the international nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

This agreement will affirm that Australia may gain access, via the records China provides to the International Atomic Energy Agency, to information enabling an effective audit of where the uranium exports are used.

Despite Prime Minister John Howard's cautiously positive remarks on uranium sales to India earlier this month, Liu Jie-yi, the director-general for America and Oceania in China's Foreign Ministry, said: "I believe Australia has done a good job in adhering to the Non-Proliferation Treaty which China, but not India, has signed."

Interesting, considering that USA wants Australia to export uranium to India but Australia will only export to those who have signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Problem I have is even if all Australian Uranium is used for peaceful uses it frees up the rest of China's Uranium for weapons programs. Good bye Taiwan and Japan?

[The Black Ship]

Kind of a "selling the rope to hang themselves" story.

Interesting to note that Pakistan, angry at the US/India nuke agreement, will sign a tit for tat nuclear development plan with China soon.

Pape, did you see the State Department spokesmans flippant response to the press corp when asked if the dept was concerned about Pakistan's reaction to being excluded from the develpment deal?

"Nope".

[Papewaio]

All short term... we give you weapons you give us trade.

You want to know what is really stupid.

Australia has the oldest craton in the world (core of a continent), very dry and geologically stable... hence great to store nuclear power by-products.

Australia also has plenty of Uranium.

PDF on Australian Mineral Resources

Australia has the world’s largest resources of uranium in RAR recoverable at <US$40/kg U (equates to
EDR), with 40% of world resources in this category. Other countries with large resources include
Canada (17%), Kazakhstan (16%) and South Africa (7%).

RAR = Reasonably Assured Resources... and this is at the cheap to excavate end.

Yet we do not use nuclear energy... despite that it could allow us to operate desalination plants cheap enough to allow us enough fresh water to avoid water restrictions.

[Zalmoxis]

Well, even if CHina gains nuclear weapons, they will do nothing against either Japan or Taiwan, not with the US still around.

[Kraxis]

Well, even if CHina gains nuclear weapons, they will do nothing against either Japan or Taiwan, not with the US still around.

Gains???
They already have more than enough. With a little good (or bad) faith they could wipe out the world...

[Reenk Roink]

Gains???
They already have more than enough. With a little good (or bad) faith they could wipe out the world...

Cool, they'll join our club ...

[lars573]

Well, even if CHina gains nuclear weapons, they will do nothing against either Japan or Taiwan, not with the US still around.

So how was that trip through the time warp from the 50's? Cause that's when the Russians helped the PRC set up a nuclear weapons program.

[Zalmoxis]

Should have said gains MORE (I think they have about 400 warheads). Anyway, the Chinese are going to do what they want when it comes to nuclear weapon construction, but they will not try to use them against countries, at least not anytime soon.

[Samurai Waki]

With two major nuclear armed nations that are in a disagreement with China, they cannot hope to gain any ground in the events of a war going nuclear, and same with the US and India likewise. Its still the saga of the cold war, I'm actually thinking that China's garauntee to use the uranium for civilian purposes is valid. People are just too paranoid these days.

[Avicenna]

Why nuke Taiwan? It makes no sense. Who'd want to take over a barren wasteland? Especially since if you leave it, it gives you trade and tourism.

[A.Saturnus]

Why nuke Taiwan? It makes no sense. Who'd want to take over a barren wasteland? Especially since if you leave it, it gives you trade and tourism.

Plus, not starting the third world war has the advantage of not being wiped of the face of the earth

[KukriKhan]

I guess one concern might be: good traders that they are, what third-party country/group might China be willing to sell/give/trade nukes to? Thereby expanding "the club".

[rory_20_uk]

Russia has so many nukes and so poor people looking after them I imagine that buying one off them would stil be the easiest.

China's need for energy is so huge that they are looking everywhere for sources of energy.

Us buying oil off Saudi Arabia et al IMO is far more reprehensible and dangerous in the short term that some uranium to China.

[A.Saturnus]

In fact, I would prefer it if China built nuclear weapons from it. Ever since one of their nuclear power plants got overrun by ants, I lost my trust in their savety measures - and I'm a nuclear power supporter.

[discovery1]

In fact, I would prefer it if China built nuclear weapons from it. Ever since one of their nuclear power plants got overrun by ants, I lost my trust in their savety measures - and I'm a nuclear power supporter.

What?! When was this? and a link, please.

On topic, uh, that's probably a bad idea. Although I suppose someone else would buy it then.