Venezuela exploring uranium deposits with Russia [View All]

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

PORLAMAR, Venezuela — Venezuela's science and technology minister said his country is working with Russia to detect deposits of uranium but withdrew an earlier denial that the country was also working with Iran.

Jesse Chacon originally denied the reports that Venezuela is receiving support from Iran to seek uranium, but clarified later Saturday that his comments were only in regard to Russia and that exploration efforts with Iran fall under the direction of Venezuela's Mining Ministry.

Mining Minister Rodolfo Sanz said Friday Iran is helping Venezuela to detect uranium deposits and that initial evaluations suggest reserves are significant. His announcement was made the same day world leaders criticized the Islamic republic for secretly building a uranium-enrichment plant that could be used to make an atomic bomb.

Sanz declined to respond to reporters when questioned Saturday about Chacon's remarks. President Hugo Chavez said only that Venezuela "has a lot of uranium."



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Venezuela says no plans yet on exploring uranium
By Fabian Cambero

PORLAMAR, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela has yet to develop a plan to explore or exploit its uranium deposits despite comments by a government official saying it was working with Iran to locate them, Venezuela's energy minister told Reuters.

On Friday, Mining Minister Rodolfo Sanz said Iran and Venezuela were working together to find uranium, and preliminary tests showed the South American country holds large deposits.

The announcement came as U.S. President Barack Obama and the leaders of Britain and France accused Iran of building a secret nuclear plant.

But Rafael Ramirez, Venezuela's top energy official, denied President Hugo Chavez is looking to exploit the radioactive material.

"No plan has been determined," he said in an interview on the sidelines of a presidential summit of African and South American leaders being hosted by Chavez on Venezuela's Margarita Island.

more:http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Iran/idUSTRE58Q08P20090927