Rio, October 7, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Lack of understanding on the part of the Brazilian State with respect to programs deserving strategic priority delayed Brazil's entry into the select group of countries that master the technology of uranium enrichment through ultracentrifugalization. This affirmation was made on Monday (6) by the Minister of Science and Technology, Roberto Amaral, when he announced that the country will be self-sufficient in uranium enrichment in 2014 and should be exporting around US$ 12.5 million per year.

"This lack of understanding deprived the Brazilian Nuclear Program of the resources it needed during the past ten years. For this reason, even though it has mastered the technology of uranium enrichment since the decade of the '80's, the country is still unable to obtain the industrial and commercial advantages that this mastery could confer," the Minister declared.

Amaral guaranteed that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's Administration opted for the development of nuclear technology for peaceful ends and has been making this clear to the country. "President Lula's decision is clearly for the resumption of the Brazilian Nuclear Program, which he considers strategic for the country. And the nuclear program, much like science and development, cannot remain subject to the lucubrations of on-duty accountants and bureaucrats. (DAS)