In October 1979 the scientific attaché of the South African Embassy in Bonn met his Brazilian counterpart in order to propose an exchange of experiences in the nuclear field. The South African diplomat recalled the similarities between the Brazilian and South African enrichment processes and specified that the initiative of a possible cooperation had been taken by the South African Atomic Energy Board and not by the Pretoria Government, because of the cold relations between the two countries. In this cable the Brazilian Ambassador in Western Germany, Jorge Silva, asked for instructions from Minister Saraiva Guerreiro in order to reply to the South Africans.
May 16, 1979
Cable from Brazilian Embassy in Bonn to Brasilia, 'Nuclear Energy. Hamburg Congress: South African Program'
This document was made possible with support from Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY)
From Brasemb Bonn to the State Secretariat
16 May 1979
SECRET
DEM/DAF-II/DE-I
Nuclear Energy. Hamburg Congress.
South African program.
No. 596 Wednesday 17:15 hs. Informing. On the occasion of the Nuclear Congress in Hamburg, an official from this Embassy met the Scientific Attaché of the Embassy of South Africa in Bonn. At the opportunity some aspects of the nuclear program of that country were brought up. The following is a recount of the comments made by the South African official:
1. The South African facility for uranium enrichment has been operating for some three years and has a capacity of about 200.000 UTS/A. In the next few years this facility should be enlarged to reach a capacity of 800.000 UTS/A to supply the enriched uranium needs of the South African nuclear program.
2. The enrichment method adopted by South Africa is similar, in its basic conception, to the centrifuge jet process of professor Becke. The facility built in South Africa, however, is the result of that country’s own efforts, which would permit considerable reduction of energy consumption even in facilities of small dimension.
Jorgesilva
Report of a meeting between an official from the Brazilian Embassy in Bonn and the scientific attaché of the South African Embassy on the occasion of a nuclear congress in Hamburg. The South African official informed the Brazilian diplomat about the advancement of the Pretoria nuclear program with regard to uranium enrichment.
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CPDOC Archives, Ramiro Saraiva Guerreiro collection. Obtained and translated by Fundação Getúlio Vargas.
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2013-04-02
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116658
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