Zimbabwe has been plagued by a chronic shortage of foreign exchange since Mugabe's seizure of 5,000 white-owned farms and the collapse of an export-oriented agricultural industry. It currently falls short of generating the 2,100 megawatts it needs daily by 400 to 450 megawatts. Zimbabwe has had great difficulty meeting bills from Mozambique, South Africa and Congo for imports from the regional electric power grid.
[Source: Michael Hartnack (AP writer), "Zimbabwe to Process Newly Found Uranium", Associated Press Online, November 20, 2005 11:16 am ET]
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November 20, 2005
Zimbabwe's Mugabe sez newly discovered uranium will be processed to resolve electricity shortage
Zimbabwe will turn to nuclear power by processing recently discovered uranium deposits to resolve its chronic electricity shortage, according to Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe. Zimbabwe was not previously known to have any workable deposits of uranium. Mugabe spoke of his intent yesterday, state radio reported. "Zimbabwe will develop power by processing uranium, which has recently been found in the country," Mugabe reportedly said. "The discovery of uranium will go a long way in further enhancing the government rural electrification program." The country does not have a nuclear power plant. The president announced plans in the 1990s to acquire a reactor from Argentina, but nothing else was ever heard about the proposal. Mugabe does have close ties with two countries with controversial nuclear programs - Iran and North Korea.
[Source: Michael Hartnack (AP writer), "Zimbabwe to Process Newly Found Uranium", Associated Press Online, November 20, 2005 11:16 am ET]