Congo uranium mine investigated

[seemslikeadream]

The uranium used in bombs dropped on Japan in 1945 came from the mine



A spokeswoman for the International Atomic Energy Agency said it was very concerned about activities at the Shinkolobwe mine in Katanga province.

The mine has been used in the past to producer uranium for nuclear bombs.

The government says it shut down the mine, but a BBC correspondent found 6,000 illegal miners at work there.

They are extracting large amounts of material containing cobalt, copper, platinum and uranium, says our correspondent.

The uranium is sold to nearby furnaces operated mainly by private businessmen from China and India, and exported illegally to the world market via neighbouring Zambia.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3566701.stm

[seemslikeadream]

1. Congo officials seize illegal uranium

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) -- Authorities seized two cases of uranium in Kinshasa, the capital, that they feared might end up on the black market in neighboring countries, Congo atomic energy officials said Monday.

The cases contained less than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of uranium 235 and 238 and were not sufficient to make an atomic bomb, said Fortunat Lumu Badimayimatu, a top government atomic energy expert.

The containers were seized at the beginning of March. Badimayimatu said he believed the uranium could have been intended for use in the oil industry, in which he said small quantities are used for drilling and measuring the density of hydrocarbon.
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/africa/03/22/congo.uranium.ap/

[mouse7]

2. How did IAEA miss 6000 miners?

Huh? Was someone from the Bush family put on this agency when nobody was looking? Only a Bush could declare a mine with 6000 miners actively working closed.