Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE105628
2009-10-09 17:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

NAMIBIA: RESPONSE TO ROSSING REQUEST FOR

Tags:  KNNP MNUC PARM ENRG EMIN ETTC PREL IR WA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7097
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHC #5628 2821753
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P R 091734Z OCT 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHWD/AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK PRIORITY 8482
INFO SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 5584
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)

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