Kigali: It has not confirmed uranium deposits yet but government is not taking any chances – joining the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) after its membership application was approved, RNA reports.

Government announced on Wednesday that the IAEA on Monday approved its application for membership of the agency.

The Rwanda request was approved "by acclamation" by the 53rd General Meeting of the IAEA held at its headquarters in Vienna, the government said in a statement.

In March 2008, Rwanda decided to join the IAEA. Although it is poor, landlocked and without mineral resources to develop a nuclear program, Rwanda is nevertheless regarded as one of the military powers of the African Great Lakes region.

According to government geological documents, Rwanda has potential deposits of Uranium and copper which are described as “anomalies”. This, local experts have told RNA means there are no proven finds.  

“In such a situation, government invites investors to come and have a look - and could be followed up with exploration,” an official with Rwanda Geological Authority said.

Rwanda’s large neighbor, DR Congo, has reserves of uranium ore used in the manufacture of nuclear weapons. French nuclear firm AREVA is doing the mining after French President Nicolas Sarkozy penned the deal in March.

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