Here’s a very upbeat and optimistic assessment of the Brazilian unranium mining industry from INB (Nuclear Industries of Brazil) superintendent of Mineral Production, Adriano Maciel Tavares:

He said that, after entry into operation of the Santa Quitéria mine, in the state of Ceará, in 2012, the country is going to produce, in that unit alone, 1,200 tons of uranium. […] “Our projection, and we are working to realize it, is that Caetité, in the state of Bahia (an uranium mine explored in partnership with fertilizer company Galvani), will become operational at around 800 tons by 2011.”

You have to ask, does Mr Tavares not read the news or is he choosing to ignore it? He either doesn’t know or doesn’t want to remind us that INB is under investigation after uranium was found in drinking water close to the Caetité mine. He either doesn’t know or doesn’t want to remind us that federal prosecutors have formally recommended that Ibama (the environmental licensing agency) refuse INB’s request to double the company’s uranium output. He either doesn’t know or doesn’t want to remind us that the environmental and social impacts of INB’s activities are to be independently investigated.

What lies behind INB's optimism? Forgetfulness or omission? Neither speaks well.