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Silex Signs Agreement with General Electric for Uranium Enrichment Technology
by justin b.
Tuesday May 30, 2006 at 11:46 PM
tutty@eco-logical.info 08-8945-6810
NOTE: Seditious content.
The (Nuclear) Non-Proliferation Legislation Amendment Bill 2003 makes it illegal for the public to scrutinise the activities of nuclear research companies like Silex, who are engaged in uranium enrichment research.
SILEX, the secretive uranium enrichment corporation, based on commonwealth land at Lucas Heights, with shadowy links to both the Australian and U.S. governments, has announced a commercialisation agreement of their technologies for laser enrichment of nuclear fuel.
From their website, 22 May 2006:
Silex Systems Limited is pleased to announce the signing of an exclusive Commercialisation and License Agreement for the SILEX Uranium Enrichment Technology with General Electric Company (GE:NYSE). The transaction is subject to receipt of government approvals.
The agreement provides for a phased approach to the commercialisation of the SILEX Technology and the potential construction of a test loop, pilot plant, and a full-scale commercial enrichment facility. These operations would be built at GE’s existing nuclear energy headquarters and technology site in Wilmington N.C. or another suitable location in the U.S.
“We are delighted to have secured General Electric as our commercialisation partner for the SILEX Technology. Despite the size differences, GE and Silex share a crucial corporate trait - a dedication to technological innovation. While Silex developed the technology concept, GE has the required technological and commercial capabilities to take it to the next level and beyond” he added.
"GE is very excited about the transaction and the potential of this innovative technology. We are looking forward to the completion of its development and bringing this product to the global marketplace,” said Andy White, President and CEO of GE’s Nuclear Business.
“By acquiring the exclusive rights to complete the development and commercial deployment of Silex’s enrichment technology, GE will be in a strong position to support anticipated demands for enriched uranium” White said.
GE is one of the largest industrial companies in the world, with a market capitalisation of ~US$350 billion. Through its Nuclear Energy business unit, GE is a leading supplier of nuclear power plants and related engineering and fuel services.
Silex goes on to detail the terms of their agreement with GE, most notably, a committment to fund a 3 year test loop and pilot plant projects, to be followed by deployment of commercial enrichment plants.
Now, perhaps the timing of this announcement was an opportunistic commercial decision, made on the back of the Howard tour, but nonetheless I think it is significant to recognise just how far down the path towards enrichment Australia has already progressed, given the heavy implications of Total Product Stewardship and Uranium Leasing. Indeed, one of the assurances given against the threat of receiving the world's nuclear waste was that we export yellowcake, not nuclear fuel. The growing likelihood that we could export enriched nuclear fuel only strengthens the likelihood that we'll get dumped with unwanted nuclear waste.
Here's how AAP reported Howard's words :
"The concept of nuclear leasing implies that the party providing the fuel takes back the spent rods, if I can put it that way, after the use has been expended," Howard told reporters in a 36-minute media conference after his meetings with US administration officials.
"We accept responsibilities for waste that we are responsible for and if we sell uranium to another country, that is quite separate from providing nuclear fuel.
"Nuclear fuel is not uranium - uranium is the raw material, if I can put it that way. It's like bauxite into alumina."
He told Bodman that Australia wanted to be kept informed of developments in the US plan, which could affect Australian exports.
Don't we know it.
Our friends at Greenpeace report that:
The existing Australia-US Agreement Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy does not apply to transfers of "sensitive nuclear technology", unless specifically provided for by amendment of that Agreement or by a separate agreement.
For the SILEX technology transfer to take place a US-AUST bi-lateral agreement was required.
A national interest analysis conducted by the international security division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) determined that it would be necessary to amend the Nuclear Non-proliferation (Safeguards) act of 1987 to add to the list of “prescribed agreements” and to make a similar amendments to the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act (ARPANSA) 1998.
The fact that the Australian Government is allowing a privately listed company to conduct research into dual use technologies, using a facility that publicly claims to be a medical research facility raises serious security issues.
It may contrast poorly to the claims that Iraq was conducting secret weapons programs, but only had decade-old centrifuges.
www.no-waste.org
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