French nuclear group Areva on Friday signed a deal with the Central African Republic government to mine uranium at a previously disputed site, officials said.
"It's a win-win agreement," Areva chief executive Anne Lauvergeon said after a signing ceremony with President Francois Bozize. "This is an accord for the long term, for 30 or 40 years," she added.
The mine at Bakouma in the east of the Central African Republic (CAR) is due to start delivering uranium in 2010, with optimal production expected over the first three years, Lauvergeon added.
The deal ends friction between Areva and CAR, which handed mining rights to British-Canadian firm UraMin in 2006
Areva bought out UraMin in July 2007, to the displeasure of the CAR government which said the "irregular" sale showed "disregard for the rights and interests" of the Central African people.
The mine is expected to be worth 40 million dollars (26 million euros) over five years to CAR, Minister for mines Sylvain Ndoutingai said.
