BRAZIL- WESTERN EUROPE: EFFORTS TO SECURE URANIUM

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06859452
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: September 18, 2020
• Case Number: F-2017-01987
• Publication Date: November 3, 1977

Approved for Release: 2020/09/11 C06859452
National
Foreign
Assessment
Center
-Sprrot
Latin America
Weekly Review
3 November 1977
ecret
RP ALA 77-064
Copy 9
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LATIN AMERICA WEEKLY REVIEW
3 November 1977
CONTENTS
Brazil � Western Europe: Efforts
To Secure Uranium
This publication is prepared for regional specialists in the Washington community by
the Latin America Division, Office of Regional and Political Analysis, with occa-
sional contributions from other offices within the National Foreign Assessment
Center and from other agencies within the Intelligence Community. Comments and
queries are welcome. They should be directed to the authors of the individual
articles.
�SECiteT--
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RP ALA 77-064
3 November 1977
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Brazil - Western Europe: Efforts To Secure Uranium
In anticipation of President Carter's visit this
month, the Brazilian Government is intensifying its at-
tempt to ensure that it will acquire enriched uranium
from the West German - Dutch - British Urenco group and
sensitive nuclear technology from West Germany. The
West Europeans are aware of US concern about Brazil's
nuclear program but are eager to court Brazil not only
as a nuclear client but also as an economic partner in
other fields and as a political ally on global issues.
Early this fall, Brazilian officials and Dutch For-
eign Minister van der Stoel agreed in principle to a
Brazilian safeguards program that satisfies Dutch con-
ditions for supplying Brazil, through Urenco, with en-
riched uranium for the Angra II and III reactors to be
built by West German firms. The program is not signif-
icantly stricter than that already provided for in Bra-
zil - West Germany - IAEA safeguards agreement, but the
Dutch believe it is no longer possible to impose wider
safeguards or to prevent the Brazilians from reprocess-
ing nuclear fuel by imposing restraints on fuel supply.
Two weeks ago, the new French Ambassador to Brazil
said publicly that his government could export enriched
uranium. He refused to say whether French fuel could
become an alternative to US fuel for Brazil's Angra I
reactor, but he confirmed that a Brazilian request would
receive serious consideration in Paris. Brazilian of-
ficials are certain to view a French offer as a way to
reduce their vulnerability on nuclear issues.
Brazilian Mines and Energy Minister Ueki said yes-
terday that Brazilian officials will soon sign a con-
tract in Bonn to acquire a nuclear fuel reprocessing
plant. The decision to advance the signing--originally
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--SECRE,,T
scheduled for 1978 under the Brazilian - West German
nuclear cooperation accord--was reportedly made to avoid
US diplomatic pressure. One West German firm involved
has denied that a contract for a plant will be signed,
but the Brazilians may be seeking assurances about the
reprocessing deal. The West Germans probably also want
to ally Brazilian concern over the slow progress in im-
plementation of the nuclear accord.
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SECRET
Approved for Release: 2020/09/11 C06859452