1l+. The south African Government has formally stated that it vill not a1lor itsurani,m sales to be a neans for increasing the numbe" of nucl-ear weapon states. 20/iilone the le-ss, irrespcnsiblc sales of trocessed uranir.,m by South tfrica to countiGsseeking nuclear weapons or losing access to other sources of urani,rn, for examplebecause of viol,ations of non-proli feration obligations, 2t/ cannot be ruled oul . 2. Uraniun enricliinent 15. Accord.ing to the semi-officiar- history of the south African Atomi c EnergyBoard, research on the enriehment of uranium began in 195f under the diTection ofDrs. A.. ,I. A" Iicux and 1^1, L. Graiti of the Board. 22/ The exislience of tlis researchlias known to only a few members of the South African cabinet 23/ tntj.I 2C July 1970, when Prine Minister B. J. Vorster annouc.rq in E-speech befoue theFarliament that south African scientists had rrsucceeded in developing a new processfor uranium enrichrnent", a process he clairnecl was ttunique in its concepttt. irirnel{inister Vorster then went on to state that "/3outh africa's7 sole obJ-ective intbe further d.evelopment and applieation of thd process vould be to promote thepeacefuJ' application of nuclear energlr", 4+,/ Fr-rnd.s lrere authorized by Parliamentfor the construction of a pilot enriclrment plant at valind.aba, near the NationalNuclear Research centre at Pelind.aba. concordtantly, the urani,n Enrichmentcorporation of south Africa (ucoR), with Drs. Roux and Grant in key positions, wascreated to carry on the further developrient and possible cornmerciali zation ofSouth Africars enrichment process. 2!/ 15. A-lthough nany of the f€atures of .what norl is known as theenrichment hsve not been publicly d.isclosed and. as discussed 19/ t'European Parliament Worried over Dependence on SouthNuclear Xngineering fnternational, Jul-y 19?8, p. U.TTTTAF-nranaec af below, there are Africen Uraniun" , (rjalt].more: -tne20/ ceorge Quester,Johns Holkins UniversityThe Politics c-Ll 4OeneKdervenka andBarbara Rogers, The Nuclear Axis:Secretration Wes t and Sogt} .Africa (New York:Times Books, 1!J8 ) , Nevby-Fr"aser, Chain Feaction, Ibid,, p. Pl; 'tsouth Africa 1977. SDeech to Parlianent, 20 July PP . 92-91+ ., p. 200. p. 103, Stirs New Arms Flurry," Nev York Times, 19?0, reproduced in llewby-Fraser, Chain p. 103.g 2"/ 3r aug;st 2'lr /
**Analysis**
The text discusses the South African government's stance on uranium sales and the country's research on uranium enrichment, which suggests a focus on natural resources and science and technology. The text also mentions the creation of a corporation to commercialize the enrichment process, which adds to the industrial and economic development aspects.

**Category**
Science and technology, International trade, Economic development