AREVA, the French nuclear energy giant that last month indefinitely postponed opening its uranium mine in the Namib Desert, paid about N$30 million to United Africa Group (UAG) shortly after the Namibian company had bought shares in Areva’s desalination plant.
Both companies have refused to explain the payment amid allegations in a South African newspaper, the Mail & Guardian, that UraMin (the company from which the French parastatal Areva bought Trekkopje in the Namib Desert) deliberately sought out political connections to advance its businesses, implicating Namibian political figures such as former Prime Minister Hage Geingob.
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