Sonjica said that under the GNEP, "fuel would be distributed" to countries but South Africa "has taken a decision to beneficiate its minerals ... in other words to end-value the minerals in South Africa and that would include uranium."
Exporting uranium only to get it back refined, instead of enriching it in South Africa, would be "in conflict with our national policy", she said.
US official Will Tobey told reporters that it was wrong to say the GNEP would stop nations from doing anything since "GNEP states voluntarily join for their benefit. No one is asking a state to give up its rights."
But Tobey, deputy administrator for defence nuclear non-proliferation at the US national nuclear security administration, said "it wouldn't make sense to do both," that is to join GNEP and still develop an indigenous uranium enrichment programme.
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