Egypt Refining Uranium in Its ‘atomic City’; Avoiding Control

Reports from Cairo that Egypt was refining its own uranium were interpreted here today as indicating that the Nasser regime does not expect any Big Power control on how it would use uranium, the key material in the production of nuclear weapons.

The announcement was that Egypt was refining uranium and thorium in its “atomic city,” south of Cairo, in a plant manned mainly by West German scientists. The key to the situation was seen in the fact that uranium can be bought in any quantity from the major powers if used for peaceful purposes under control of the Big Power supplier. Israeli sources said the Egyptian announcement meant that Egypt might start uncontrolled operation of uranium-based installations.

Israel has discovered some uranium are in phosphate layers in the Negev, but purification of such small quantities would cost immense sums. Israel meanwhile is waiting to learn what quantities of uranium Egypt is able to produce, and whether the ore was found in more or less pure form in uranium mines or mixed with other minerals. Until this information is obtained, Israel is not expected to comment officially on the Egyptian announcement.