Originally Chacon has denied the reports that Venezuela is receiving support from Iran to seek uranium, but later he clarified that his comments were only in regard to Russia and that exploration efforts with Iran fall under the direction of Venezuela’s Mining Ministry.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said only that Venezuela “has a lot of uranium.”
Chavez said his interest in developing nuclear energy as early as 2005, and mentioned Venezuela could discuss it with Iran. Earlier in September 2009, Chavez said that the two nations agreed to work together on geological studies in the Venezuelan Andes and the foothills in his home state of Barinas, where satellite information indicated the existence of “different minerals that are very important for the country’s development.”
Chavez’s project remains in its planning stages and still faces a host of practical hurdles, likely which needs billions of dollars, and also technology and expertise which Venezuela lacks.
