text: In his 1970 announceirlent that South r'Lfrican scientists had devefoped a r.rnique enrichrnent process, Prime Iqinister Vorster indicated South ,A.friea's read.i.ness to collaborate vith other corulbries in the further devefopment of that process. fhough d.iscussions apparently l'ere initiated. wlth individuafs and. corporations in several coultries " those with individuals and organizations in the I'ederal Republic of Germany vere the most promising and by 1973-197\ a network of infornal ties had emerged. South African scientists paid periodic visits to the Laboratories of Professor Ernst Becker, the developer of the Secker nozzfe enrichment process' at the semi-goverrmental trIest German Society for Nuclear Research at I(arlsruhe and Dr. Becker, in turn, visited Pel-indaba. Thexe also lrere extensive contacts and discussions between the Uranium Enriehment Corporation end the West German firnt :lTfAC, which had the exclusive patent rights to the Becker nozzle process in addition to the ind.ustxial capacity, nanpower, and access to financing sought by the South Africans in a potential foreign collaborator" This infornal set of relationships came to an end, however, in early 1976 r+hen the ge1p6".1ion and. ST5.AG were unab.le to reach agreement on i"he financial arrangements and sharing of risks in any colfaborative development of a conmercisf scale U0oR-p"ocess enrichment facility. 69/ By that timeo howevei, South Africais or,m enrichnent programne vas well under-waY, 36, 'l'h,- ertent to rrhich these infornal ties contributed to the pro6ess of South Africa?s enrichment project is rmeertain, Although the official- South African contention that only feasibility studies took place probably und.erestimates the inpact of these informalities, 7O/ tne allegation of some critics - denied. by the Goverlment of the tr'ederal" Republ-ic of Germany - 7I/ tnat STEAG 'rhande<l overrr the 68/ Aaelnan and Knight, "Can South Africa Go Nuclear?" , p' 635 ' 69/ Cervenka and Rocers" Nuclear Axis, pp, 5o-Bl+, 1?)r-180i Newby-Fraser,
analysis: The text appears to be discussing the development of South Africa's uranium enrichment program, including the country's efforts to collaborate with other countries, particularly West Germany, in this endeavor. The text highlights the informal relationships established between South African scientists and their West German counterparts, as well as the eventual breakdown of these relationships due to disagreements over financial arrangements and risk sharing. The text suggests that the informal ties contributed to the advancement of South Africa's enrichment program, but the extent of this contribution is unclear.