Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KINSHASA1309
2006-08-18 12:59:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:
URANIUM SHIPMENT RUMORS UNFOUNDED
how-toVZCZCXRO4426 PP RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHKI #1309/01 2301259 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 181259Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4627 INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0008 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0433 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001309
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2016
TAGS: ENRG EMIN ETRD PREL PGOV IAEA CG IR
SUBJECT: URANIUM SHIPMENT RUMORS UNFOUNDED
REF: A. 04 KINSHASA 103
B. 04 KINSHASA 611
C. 05 KINSHASA 527
D. 05 KINSHASA 731
E. 05 KINSHASA 449
F. DAR ES SALAAM 1376
Classified By: Econoff W.Brafman for reason 1.4 b/d/e.
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001309
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2016
TAGS: ENRG EMIN ETRD PREL PGOV IAEA CG IR
SUBJECT: URANIUM SHIPMENT RUMORS UNFOUNDED
REF: A. 04 KINSHASA 103
B. 04 KINSHASA 611
C. 05 KINSHASA 527
D. 05 KINSHASA 731
E. 05 KINSHASA 449
F. DAR ES SALAAM 1376
Classified By: Econoff W.Brafman for reason 1.4 b/d/e.
1. (C) Summary. Press reports of a possible enriched uranium
shipment from the DRC to Iran are unfounded. The DRC has no
capability to produce enriched uranium, and Post has no
evidence of organized mining at the Shinkolobwe uranium mine.
The story likely was planted as a dirty trick designed to
discredit President Kabila during a bitterly-contested
electoral campaign. End summary.
Press Reports of Tanzanian uranium seizures
--------------
2. (SBU) An August 6 Sunday Times of London report asserted
that in October 2005 Tanzanian authorities stopped a shipment
of Uranium 238 ore from the DRC's Katanga province that was
destined for Iran via Kazakhstan. The article stated that
Tanzanian customs official said the ore was hidden among
drums of coltan, another mineral found in DRC. The Sunday
Times also cited the July 2005 UN Group of Experts report
asserting that the GOT had reported seizing four shipments of
radioactive materials (including Cesium and Radium) since
1996. The Group of Experts said the GOT "left no doubt' that
the October 2005 shipment came from Katanga via Zambia.
Uranium sources exist
--------------
3. (S/NF) Shinkolobwe mine, the uranium source for the
Manhattan Project atomic bombs, is the alleged source of the
rumored shipment. Shinkolobwe is about 80 miles northwest of
Lubumbashi. The mine was closed, flooded and sealed in 1961
and remained inactive until roughly 2002, when artisanal
miners in search of high grade cobalt ore trespassed onto the
site (reftel D, E). Post has repeatedly visited Shinkolobwe
and found no evidence either of extensive artisanal mining or
organized mining activities. In fact, EmbOffs visited
Shinkolobwe in March 2005 (reftel E),a few months before the
alleged October shipment, extensively surveyed the site, and
found no signs of activity. Likewise, Tanzanian authorities
(reftel F) have denied any such shipment was ever seized.
(Note: EmbOff again visited Shinkolobwe on August 9, 2006,
and again saw no evidence of organized mining or extensive
artisanal mining. End note.)
4. (C) Furthermore, the DRC lacks the capability to enrich
uranium, and particularly not to weapons-grade capacity. The
country's one reactor, located in Kinshasa (across the
country from Katanga, the source of uranium),is mostly
dysfunctional and even when new was not weapons-grade
capable.
No evidence GDRC involved
--------------
5. (C) GDRC officials also deny any such shipment took place.
Minister of Information Mova Sakani explained that uranium
must be concentrated before shipment and that the DRC does
not have the capability either to concentrate or to enrich
uranium. He also noted that all of the DRC's nuclear-related
activities are monitored by International Atomic Energy
Agency's (IAEA).
Comment
--------------
6. (C) The timing of the story, coming in the midst of
Congo's election campaign, and aimed at discrediting
President Kabila, is no coincidence. During his May meeting
with the Ambassador, Fidel Babala, Chief of Staff to Bemba,
who is MLC's head and Kabila's main rival, presented
evidently fraudulent letters regarding a supposed deal
between Iranians and President Kabila's sister. Babala
subsequently tried to suggest a link between the presidency
and the uranium seizure during his August 9 meeting with
EconOff and PolOff. End comment.
KINSHASA 00001309 002 OF 002
MEECE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2016
TAGS: ENRG EMIN ETRD PREL PGOV IAEA CG IR
SUBJECT: URANIUM SHIPMENT RUMORS UNFOUNDED
REF: A. 04 KINSHASA 103
B. 04 KINSHASA 611
C. 05 KINSHASA 527
D. 05 KINSHASA 731
E. 05 KINSHASA 449
F. DAR ES SALAAM 1376
Classified By: Econoff W.Brafman for reason 1.4 b/d/e.
1. (C) Summary. Press reports of a possible enriched uranium
shipment from the DRC to Iran are unfounded. The DRC has no
capability to produce enriched uranium, and Post has no
evidence of organized mining at the Shinkolobwe uranium mine.
The story likely was planted as a dirty trick designed to
discredit President Kabila during a bitterly-contested
electoral campaign. End summary.
Press Reports of Tanzanian uranium seizures
--------------
2. (SBU) An August 6 Sunday Times of London report asserted
that in October 2005 Tanzanian authorities stopped a shipment
of Uranium 238 ore from the DRC's Katanga province that was
destined for Iran via Kazakhstan. The article stated that
Tanzanian customs official said the ore was hidden among
drums of coltan, another mineral found in DRC. The Sunday
Times also cited the July 2005 UN Group of Experts report
asserting that the GOT had reported seizing four shipments of
radioactive materials (including Cesium and Radium) since
1996. The Group of Experts said the GOT "left no doubt' that
the October 2005 shipment came from Katanga via Zambia.
Uranium sources exist
--------------
3. (S/NF) Shinkolobwe mine, the uranium source for the
Manhattan Project atomic bombs, is the alleged source of the
rumored shipment. Shinkolobwe is about 80 miles northwest of
Lubumbashi. The mine was closed, flooded and sealed in 1961
and remained inactive until roughly 2002, when artisanal
miners in search of high grade cobalt ore trespassed onto the
site (reftel D, E). Post has repeatedly visited Shinkolobwe
and found no evidence either of extensive artisanal mining or
organized mining activities. In fact, EmbOffs visited
Shinkolobwe in March 2005 (reftel E),a few months before the
alleged October shipment, extensively surveyed the site, and
found no signs of activity. Likewise, Tanzanian authorities
(reftel F) have denied any such shipment was ever seized.
(Note: EmbOff again visited Shinkolobwe on August 9, 2006,
and again saw no evidence of organized mining or extensive
artisanal mining. End note.)
4. (C) Furthermore, the DRC lacks the capability to enrich
uranium, and particularly not to weapons-grade capacity. The
country's one reactor, located in Kinshasa (across the
country from Katanga, the source of uranium),is mostly
dysfunctional and even when new was not weapons-grade
capable.
No evidence GDRC involved
--------------
5. (C) GDRC officials also deny any such shipment took place.
Minister of Information Mova Sakani explained that uranium
must be concentrated before shipment and that the DRC does
not have the capability either to concentrate or to enrich
uranium. He also noted that all of the DRC's nuclear-related
activities are monitored by International Atomic Energy
Agency's (IAEA).
Comment
--------------
6. (C) The timing of the story, coming in the midst of
Congo's election campaign, and aimed at discrediting
President Kabila, is no coincidence. During his May meeting
with the Ambassador, Fidel Babala, Chief of Staff to Bemba,
who is MLC's head and Kabila's main rival, presented
evidently fraudulent letters regarding a supposed deal
between Iranians and President Kabila's sister. Babala
subsequently tried to suggest a link between the presidency
and the uranium seizure during his August 9 meeting with
EconOff and PolOff. End comment.
KINSHASA 00001309 002 OF 002
MEECE