#JustIn: EU mulls uranium imports from Namibia

The European Union’s (EU) nuclear agency Euratom has said it could diversify its uranium imports in up to three years, including from Namibia, Reuters reports.

Euratom said this in reaction to the possibility that Niger might cut its deliveries of uranium to the bloc.

"If imports from Niger are being cut, there are no immediate risks to the security of nuclear power production in the short term," said Euratom.

France - a leading nuclear power producer in Europe and Niger's former colonial power - said on Tuesday it would evacuate French and European citizens after the overthrow of the country's democratically elected government.

Euratom said utilities in the bloc had enough uranium inventories to fuel its nuclear power reactors for three years.

It said the bloc could diversify imports in up to three years, including from currently idled production sites in Canada, Australia and Namibia, as well as from new deposits. - Reuters