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Zirconium Silicate cargo to Iran wrongfully nabbed
The British government has revealed that a consignment of zirconium silicate was wrongfully stopped being exported to Iran, according to IRNA [Islamic Republic News Agency]. Minister for Europe Douglas Alexander said that a truck traveling from the UK was stopped by authorities in Bulgaria on August 31 and that the British Embassy in Sofia informed relevant authorities in London a week later.Minister for Europe Douglas Alexander said that a truck traveling from the UK was stopped by authorities in Bulgaria on August 31 and that the British Embassy in Sofia informed relevant authorities in London a week later. "We arranged for the carrying out of necessary checks and confirmed on 28 October that the cargo was legitimate. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office therefore had no further involvement," Alexander said in a written reply to parliament published Thursday. Zirconium silicate is used as a white emulsifier for tiles, tableware and ceramics. But the metal itself is also employed in tubes for cladding uranium oxide fuel as a corrosion resistant in nuclear reactors. It was reported that the truck was stopped in Bulgaria because it was emitting an alleged high radiation level when it crossed the border. But the Department of Trade and Industry in London said they were aware of the background about the export and that the case was "no cause for concern." Posted by: Pappy 2005-12-10 |
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