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Aust-Taiwan uranium deal signed
TWO Australian mining companies have signed contracts for the supply of uranium to a Taiwanese power company, a deal that will be done through US channels. Taiwan, which is not a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, confirmed the deals yesterday - the same day that China - Taiwan's arch-rival - and Australia signed a deal in Canberra for the supply of uranium.Taiwanese officials said the deal had been signed by the electrical producer Taipower with BHP Billiton and ERA during the past 12 months. Osman Chia, from the Taipei economic and cultural office in Canberra, said the arrangement provided for indirect trade route through the US. "We don't have official relations with Australia so we go through the United States," Mr Chia said. In the past, Australia has rebuffed approaches from Taiwan to sell it uranium, fearing a hostile reaction from China. Australia has also recently turned down requests from India to sell it uranium, citing the fact that it has not signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty as the reason. Federal Resources Minister Ian Macfarlane said Taiwan was a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency and subjected itself to inspections by the organisation. Posted by: tipper 2006-04-03 |
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