nuclear-news

Confusion over South Africa’s secret nuclear deal with Russia

Nuclear Deal With Russia Brings Political Storm Clouds in South Africa VOA October 09, 2014  JOHANNESBERG, SOUTH AFRICA— Opposition lawmakers are crying foul about a multibillion-dollar nuclear power deal with Russia, saying the agreement could give Moscow the power to veto South African trade with other nuclear providers.The Sept. 22 strategic partnership, signed on the sidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency conference in Vienna, comes as Moscow has sought to boost lucrative exports of nuclear equipment, technology and expertise in recent years…….

Lance Greyling, a top lawmaker with the opposition party Democratic Alliance, said there was confusion about the Sept. 22 deal. A draft agreement signed last year gave Russia the power to veto South African trade with other nuclear providers, party officials have said.

“What the government is saying at the moment is that they’ve just signed a framework agreement with Russia and that there will still be a procurement process that is followed,” he told VOA on Oct. 3. “But what we are unclear about is what exactly is in this framework agreement, and the fact that they’re not willing to show it to us makes us highly suspicious.”…..

If the government has nothing to hide in the deal then it needs to share details of the arrangement with lawmakers, Greyling said…….

http://www.voanews.com/content/south-africa-russia-nuclear-power/2478224.html

October 10, 2014 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, South Africa