Nuclear power in Zimbabwe..?
According to Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe is now going to pursue a programme of nuclear power. The BBC reports that Mugabe has said Zimbabwe will not pursue nuclear weapons.
“We recently discovered uranium which is used for many purposes, including electricity generation,” Mr Mugabe said.
“Uranium also makes nuclear bombs such as those which were used to massacre the Japanese at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. That was sad indeed.
“But we will not use it to make bombs but to generate electricity,” he added.
“The discovery of uranium will go a long way in further enhancing the government rural electrification programme.”
The Guardian (UK) cites John Robertson, an economist based in Harare:
“Perhaps Mr Mugabe is also trying to get Zimbabwe to be considered as a strategically important state in the international community,” said Mr Robertson. “He can see how Iran and North Korea are using the threat of developing nuclear power as a bargaining chip with the United States.”
Iran and North Korea are both close allies of Robert Mugabe’s.
Mr Robertson is sceptical of the government’s ability to develop nuclear power:
“It is a huge step from locating some uranium deposits to developing a working uranium mine and refinery, and it is an even bigger leap to establish a nuclear reactor,” [...] “Where would Mugabe source the substantial finance and technical expertise needed to build a nuclear reactor?”
It could take four to five years to set up a uranium mine. Considerable technical skills would then be needed to produce the uranium concentrate needed for a nuclear reactor, said Mr Robertson.
I very much enjoyed zwnews’s take on the article: the entry for this item on my daily news email was introduced as ‘And pigs might fly…’; the image accompanying this piece comes from the main zwnews website.
November 22nd, 2005 03:57
Yeah, and Bob wouldn’t lie!
November 25th, 2005 02:01
As ludicrous as it may seem right at this moment because Zimbabwe lacks nuclear development capbilities, I believe that Zimbabwe neeeds to work towards building the nuclear power station with aid from nighbouring countries or from international aid agencies. The honest truth is that Zimbabwe is suffering from a severe power shortage, having to spend millions of forex to fund the minimal supplies that we get. If Zim were to have a power plant such as this it would aid development as that forex could stay within the country and be used for other things such as health care and education. I believe many people don’t take mugabe seriously but all his ideas are not zanny, and this is an idea that is worth researching.
What is most to fear is that with the negligence of the current government such a plant may not be safe for society. It may suffer a meltdown or it may be used for weapons. But this is one resource that Zimbabwe should start eploiting at it own terms.
Zvikomborero
November 28th, 2005 16:49
That just wishfull thinking zvikomborero….. as always there are people who will plunder the resource if at all it exists..(which i doubt very much).
Besides its just something a guy with very little imagination came up with while sitting and imagining pigs flying.
February 21st, 2007 00:12
Interesting blog – I visit often. Take care.
February 21st, 2007 23:49
Zim with a nuclear power plant? Not likely, whats Uncle Bob been drinking now?
Uranium? yeah perhaps he’s been staring at the luminous hands of his watch for too long.
Bob…You must get out more, this sitting indoors all the time is not good for you.
November 22nd, 2005 19:01
[...] At the on again-off again ‘Expression Under Repression’ seminar, Taurai Maduna the information officer at Kubatana.net shared his perspective on the role of the internet in a repressed country noting that Mugabe’s government doesn’t view the internet as a serious threat, “Taurai tells us that Kubatana operates openly, with the knowledge of the Zimbabwean government and has avoided harrasment, largely because the government doesn’t see the Internet as a way to reach the Zimbabwean mainstream, just the elites.” Meanwhile Hope at This is Zimbabwe is seeing flying pigs over reports that Mugabe has announced the discovery in Uranium in Zimbabwe. [...]
November 22nd, 2005 23:08
[...] This is Zimbabwe reports on Mugabe’s latest “if pigs could fly” idea – bringing nuclear power to Zimbabwe. He quotes a piece from the UK Guardian..”“Perhaps Mr Mugabe is also trying to get Zimbabwe to be considered as a strategically important state in the international community,†said Mr Robertson. “He can see how Iran and North Korea are using the threat of developing nuclear power as a bargaining chip with the United States.†[...]