Aug. 6, 2007 (LPAC) - The world wide expansion of nuclear power has led France and others to expand and secure their access to Uranium resources, while mining companies are expanding production.

The French nuclear plant constructor Areva, according to today's Le Monde, is on a major offensive to beef up its overall nuclear capacities. First, Areva last week bought for $2.5 billion the Canadian uranium mining company UraMin, which owns mines in Namibia, South Africa and Centrafrique. Areva also projects expanding its uranium processing in Canada (30% of its production) and Kazakhstan (25%), and renewed its contract with Niger at the end of last week. Niger has delivered some 50 exploitation rights to foreign companies, many to the Chinese. To renew its Niger relations, Areva had to give up its monopoly over Niger's uranium resources, and will pay 50% more for the product.

The mining company Rio Tinto, is considering doubling its production of uranium over the next 10 years after the price of the nuclear fuel has doubled over the past year. Rio plans to expand its investments in uranium, rather than sell them, to pay for its $38.1 billion bid to buy Alcan.