HC Deb 25 February 1980 vol 979 cc436-7W
Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total output of URENCO; if he will list the countries to which supplies are sent; and whether these countries have to fulfil any conditions prior to receiving supplies.

Mr.Norman Lamont

URENCO'S uranium enrichment capacity now totals about 460 tonnes separative work per year—including the pilot plants. During 1979 total output was about 390 tonnes separative work.

So far, URENCO has supplied low enriched uranium to utilities in the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands, for use in domestic nuclear power programmes. URENCO have also signed a contract with Nuclebras in Brazil for the supply of low enriched uranium. All contract contain appropriate safeguards clauses.

The intergovernmental safeguards and non-proliferation conditions relating to the Brazilian contract were agreed between the three Governments of the collaboration—the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands—and Brazil, Cmnd. 7643 sets out the texts of the intergovernmental exchange of notes between the United Kingdom and Brazil concerning the application of safeguards to the exports of enriched uranium, under the contract, from the United Kingdom to Brazil.