Green groups slam mooted uranium shipment

Environmental groups have expressed concerns about the trans-shipment of uranium between Namibia and the US through SA ports. According to a TimesLIVE report, last week‚ the Department of Energy gazetted an application made by US firm Edlow International Company Incorporated for a trans-shipment and brief in-transit storage of low-activity uranium ore concentrate from Namibia to clients abroad. This will be done through the port of Durban or Cape Town using a duly authorised transport vessel‚ the department said in the gazette. ‘The transport vessel is not nuclear powered. Consignments are scheduled to enter and depart the port of Durban or Cape Town from time to time‚’ the department said. But Greenpeace Africa is opposed to the move. ‘This is an absolutely unnecessary risk‚ and Greenpeace strongly believes that the application should be denied. The reality is that nuclear is never safe‚ and the National Nuclear Regulator should not allow South Africa to be used as a thoroughfare for the transport of uranium ore‚’ said Melita Steele‚ senior climate and energy campaign manager at Greenpeace Africa.