NAMIBIA: RESPONSE TO ROSSING REQUEST FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 105628 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2024 TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM ENRG EMIN ETTC PREL IR WA SUBJECT: NAMIBIA: RESPONSE TO ROSSING REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE WITH SECURITY FROM FUTURE URANIUM ORE THEFTS REF: A. WINDHOEK 000348 ¶B. WINDHOEK 000296 ¶C. WINDHOEK 000202 ¶D. WINDHOEK 000200 ¶E. WINDHOEK 000198 ¶F. WINDHOEK 000159 Classified By: ISN ACTING DAS PHILIP A. FOLEY, FOR 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (U) Action request, please see paragraph 4. ¶2. (C) Background: In response to the latest theft of uranium oxide from Rio Tinto's Rossing Uranium facility, Managing Director Mike Leech reached out to Ambassador Mathieu to request USG assistance for technical assistance on its security program. Iran's ownership stake in that company caused the United States to closely scrutinize Rossing's Rio Tinto uranium mine activities lately. Leech clearly believed the recent theft would spark additional concerns and felt the need to emphasize that Rossing was taking the incident very seriously and taking rigorous steps to prevent future thefts. ¶3. (U) Next Steps: DOE's Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) program officials believe they can assist Rossing with technical assistance on its security program. GTRI recently signed contracts in Namibia to do security upgrades at the Windhoek Central Hospital teletherapy center. GTRI believes that this work could be completed in the next month or so and will schedule a visit to ensure the work was properly performed by the contractor. They expect that this visit will take place in December 2009, and have offered to meet with Embassy personnel and Rossing officials during this trip to discuss Rossing's security issues. ¶4. (C) Action Requested: Please contact Rossing officials to confirm their interest and availability during the December timeframe. Should Post determine that Rossing's need is more urgent, please advise as GTRI indicated that they could be available before December. Please ask Rossing officials for any security related documentation for GTRI to review before the trip. ¶5. (U) Any substantive questions can be addressed to Judee Allen-Close (ISN/RA, 202-647-8366, CloseJA@state.sgov.gov) or Richard Nephew (ISN/RA, 202-647-7680, NephewRM@state.sgov.gov). CLINTON