Uranium mining law signed in Zambia
06 October 2008
[Reuters, 6 October] Zambia's minister of mines, Kalombo Mwansa, has signed a law paving the way for uranium mining in the country. The law - which covers the exploration, mining and milling of uranium ores and other radioactive mineral ores - gives the mines minister the authority to issue licences for the mining and export of uranium. It states that, "a person (or mining firms) shall not acquire, sell or export uranium or any radioactive mineral except with the terms and conditions of an approval granted by the minister." Mwansa said, "The law is now in place to facilitate operations for uranium mining and the mining companies are now free to apply for authority to conduct their activities." He added, "Uranium mining adds another dimension to our plans to diversify from copper into other minerals, and it will allow us to consider using uranium as a source of energy in the long term." Several foreign mining companies have reported discovering uranium deposits in Zambia, but have yet to be allowed to exploit them.