ZAMBIA has developed guidelines to stop the sale of uranium to institutions that may use it for producing dangerous weapons.

Mines and Minerals Development Minister Maxwell Mwale also told Parliament in Lusaka yesterday that Government had issued two licences for the exploration of uranium.

Mr Mwale said the Government had developed guidelines to stop the sale of uranium to institutions that might use it for the production of dangerous weapons.

The guidelines were produced with supervision from the International Atomic Energy Agency that would be involved in all activities leading to the final stage, which would be exportation.

The guidelines cover monitoring activities during exploration, mining, milling, storage, transportation, export, marketing, safety, health and environmental protection standards.

Mr Mwale said exploration licences had been granted to Denison Mines (Zambia) and African Energy Resources.

In addition to these, there are 140 large and small-scale prospecting licences which include uranium as one of the minerals to be explored.

Before mining for uranium starts, a developer would be required to come up with an environmental impact assessment report and consult with local communities where the mineral would be mined.

Mr Mwale said fears that uranium was dangerous were incorrect because he had toured countries where mining was done about 50 metres away from the production spots and that no danger or negative effect had been recorded.

Mr Mwale said uranium exploration in Zambia was not being done for the first time.