Slow in coming, but important, progress is made in forcing Areva to take responsibility for the workers who have fallen sick at their uranium mining facilities in Niger. This is good news, but remember- this is the company that just a few years ago when confronted on this issue said publicly to Der Spiegel (http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,686774,00.html) that Niger was poor, needed the jobs, and should be grateful. 

Excellent work on the part of Greenpeace, SHERPA, and others for their hard work in getting Areva this far. And, for bringing the plight of uranium miners and their families to the public eye. The front end of the nuclear fuel cycle is deadly, dirty, and decidedly not carbon free.

Reuters l 6 December, 2011

NIAMEY (Reuters) - Areva said on Tuesday it would monitor the health of thousands of workers and residents exposed to its uranium mine sites in Niger, bowing to pressure from advocacy groups.

The move comes a year after the French nuclear giant launched a plan in Gabon to treat more than 1,000 former miners who fell ill after working in one of Areva's mines there.

"Health observatories have now become a reality in two African countries and Areva wants to extend the health monitoring to all the mines it operates in the world," said Alain Acker, medical director for Areva.

"In case of illness attributable to professional activity, Areva would take responsibility for healthcare up to French medical standards."

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