Issues at Operating Uranium Mines and Mills - Asia
(last updated 10 Dec 2011)
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General
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Illegal uranium mining in Afghanistan unabated
Smugglers and unscrupulous elements are busy illegally excavating mines to plunder Afghanistan's uranium and gold reserves in Kohistan district of the northern Faryab province.
Officials and residents charged on Sep. 7, 2005, the uranium brought huge windfalls to the unauthorized excavators.
Officials at the Ministry of Mines and Industries admitted "irresponsible elements" were digging the site for precious metals. They said they were trying to prevent as soon as possible the brazen plunder of the assets belonging to the Afghan government and people.
A Kohistan-based mineral expert told Pajhwok Afghan News rapacious men, with no expertise and equipment, dug out large quantities of prized metals including uranium, gold, copper, lead and azure.
The glowing stones, often mishandled by the callow men, were smuggled to an unknown location, alleged Eng. Khan Mirza, who deplored the massive reserves were being exploited in a non-professional way.
The brazen practice was rampant during previous governments as well, he said while stressing an early end to what he called a loss of impoverished Afghanistan's abundant mineral resources.
Tucked away in the jagged Hindukush mountain range, Siku mines are situated 148 kilometres southeast of the provincial capital city of Maimana.
(Pajhwok Afghan News/Asia Pulse, Sept 9, 2005)
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Jharkhand
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Bandugurang ·
Jaduguda (extra page) ·
Turamdih
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Indian minister recommends afforestation around uranium mines to abate environmental degradation
Union Minister of State for Forest and Environment Jairam Ramesh today laid emphasis on massive tree plantation around mines in the country to fight the dangers of environmental degradation in such areas and sought a proposal in this regard from scientists in the field.
Ramesh said serious measures need to be taken for environment protection around mines specially those of uranium, iron ore and limestone.
Expressing concern over the dangers of carbon emission, Ramesh said the process of afforestation should be implemented at a faster pace to deal with the situation.
(Indopia/PTI June 2, 2009)
Yellow Cake truck overturns in Andhra Pradesh
A trailer transporting a container with 62 drums of radioactive yellow cake from Jaduguda in Jharkhand to the Nuclear Fuel Complex at Hyderabad overturned at Narsannapeta in Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh on the morning of July 25, 2007. Police officials at Narsannapeta said the trailer overturned and fell into the fields when it swerved to avoid a bus overtaking it on the wrong side.
According to S.K. Malhotra, Head, Environment and Public Awareness Division, Department of Atomic Energy, there was no spillage. DAE officials found no change in the background radiation-levels, Mr. Malhotra said. Jawans of the Central Industrial Security Force were escorting the trailer.
(The Hindu July 26, 2007)
Panel to probe alleged illegal uranium mining in Jharkhand
A two-member enquiry committee has been set up by the Jharkhand Government on March 23, 2005, to probe the alleged illegal mining of uranium in the State.
(The Hindu March 24, 2005)
(also spelled Banduhurang, Bandurang)
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Tribal villagers protest against land acquisition for Banduhurang tailings dam
Traffic movement was disrupted for about two hours at the Old Court Road in Sakchi (Jamshedpur) on the afternoon of May 19, 2009, as tribal villagers staged a demonstration against a land acquisition drive by the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL).
The agitators with placards and banners were up in arms against the PSU (Public Sector Undertaking) for its land acquisition drive.
Earlier, UCIL, through a public notice issued last month, had informed the villagers of its land acquisition drive. The company proposes to acquire 276.62 acres for its tailing pond project.
The tailing pond will be used for dumping waste generated from UCIL's Banduhurang mines.
Talsa village chief Durga Chandra Murmu claimed that more than 1,500 families would be affected if lands were acquired.
According to Murmu, a large patch of agricultural land would be acquired by the company for developing the proposed tailing pond.
"Most of the villagers are dependent on agriculture and would not gain anything form the mining projects. We don't want to lose our land, which is the only thing tribals have been left with," added Murmu.
(The Telegraph May 19, 2009)
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Landlosers stop UCIL officials from accessing Turamdih uranium mine:
Two officials of Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) were assaulted today allegedly by angry landlosers at Turamdih on the outskirts of Jamshedpur, officials said. "A group of villagers stopped the employees from going to Turamdih mine. They assaulted General Manager (Mill) S K Srivastav and Deputy General Manager (Mechanical) Guha Niyogi along with others," Chairman-cum-Managing Director of UCIL, Dr Ramendra Gupta, told PTI. Works have been suspended at Turamdih mine, its processing plant and Bandurang open pit mine, he said. The protesters including an employee of UCIL, who was suspended yesterday, gathered at the main gate of Turamdih mine and stopped employees from getting in the mine premises demanding employment, Gupta said. UCIL had acquired around 300 acres of land at Dhodanga village in 2005 but the villagers have illegally set up dwelling units on it. They have been preventing UCIL from blasting the area for mining, CMD said.
(IBNLive Apr. 5, 2011)
Second public hearing on expansion of Turamdih uranium mill stalled after protests by villagers:
A public hearing on expansion of UCIL's Turamdih mines was put off today (March 10) after an irate village mob chased away Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) officials and held the uranium major’s senior general manager (personnel) hostage.
This was the second time a public hearing organised by the regional office of JSPCB for UCIL was stalled. The first was called off on October 20 last year, when villagers barricaded the venue.
Today's hearing was scheduled at Turamdih football grounds at 11am. No sooner did senior JSPCB and UCIL officials begin proceedings, some villagers armed with traditional weapons like bows and arrows and swords started shouting anti-UCIL slogans.
"We will not allow expansion of the mines because the company cheated on us. Though it is not acquiring extra acres now, it never compensated those who were displaced when the Turamdih mines became operational," said Ashok Karmakar, a protester.
(The Telegraph, Calcutta, March 10, 2011)
Turamdih uranium mill halted for water shortage:
The production in the processing plant of Turamdih uranium mine has been suspended due to water shortage, officials said. S K Srivastav, General Manager of Processing Plant of UCIL, said the processing plant, which has 3000 ton per day capacity, has been lying idle for the last four days as the water source of Kharkhai river has dried up. About 8000 to 9000 cusec (cubic feet per second) [= 226 - 255 cubic metres per second !?] water is needed to run the plant, he said. Srivastav said efforts have been underway to draw water from the nearby areas. He said UCIL has decided to transfer the mine water from Jadugora mine to run the mine for a few days. A study has been carried out in the nearby areas to identify a spot from where water could be drawn, officials said.
(PTI Mar. 3, 2011)
Protest leads to scrapping of public hearing on expansion of Turamdih uranium mill:
A public hearing on the proposed expansion of public sector Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) at the uranium mine in Turamdih could not take place today (Oct. 20) due to protest by villagers. Organised by Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board 
on the directive of the central government, the hearing was to take place for expansion of UCIL's processing plant from the existing capacity of 3000 tonne per day to 4500 tonne per day.
However, officials of East Singhbhum district, UCIL and PCB could not reach the venue at Turamdih football ground as hundreds of villagers under the banner of Jharkhand Krantikari Mazdoor Union (JKMU) locked all the entry points and staged a massive demonstration against the hearing, UCIL sources said. JKMU president Fudan Murmu said the UCIL and PCB had violated all norms of the public hearing as it did not issue any notice to the Gram Sabha concerned or the affected villagers beforehand. Besides, the hearing, which should have been taken place in a public place, was being organized in the UCIL's premises in violation of the guidelines, he alleged.
Apprehending that several families would be affected following the expansion, Murmu said about 500 tribal families, displaced by UCIL's projects in 1983-84 and 2005, were not yet given any employment or adequate compensation. Members of displaced families had been implicated in false cases by the UCIL management in the past, he claimed.
Besides, rampant pollution due to mining was also a cause behind our protest, he said.
(PTI Oct. 20, 2010)
UCIL to commission Turamdih mine soon:
On July 5, 2008, the Chairman and Managing Director of Uranium Corp of India (UCIL) Ramendra Gupta said a processing plant with an installed capacity of 3,000 tons per day was on trial run at Turamdih mine, and is likely to be commissioned soon.
Pointing out that UCIL has invested Rs 8 billion [US$ 185 million] during the last five years for expansion, he said two open cast mines one at Bandujurang and Turamdih each have already been commissioned, whereas two others - Bagjata and Mahuldih - were under construction.
Gupta said there was a need for further expansion of Turamdih plant.
Referring to the mining lease, he said it had been approved but execution was still awaited.
To a query about flow-in of uranium waste from the Turamdih tailing pond in the Talsa village following record rainfall on June 18, 2008, Gupta said there was some water flow-in in the village due to heavy rain. However, compensation to the affected family equivalent to one year crop had been given, he said.
Referring to the construction of another tailing pond, he said UCIL had deposited 80 per cent of the cost land four years ago but it was yet to be approved by the government.
(The Economic Times July 5, 2008)
Heavy rain causes tailings overflow into Turamdih village:
Owing to the record 338.1 mm rainfall on June 17, 2008, in Jharkhand State of India, maximum in the past six decades, radioactive wastes from the tailing pond of Turamdih uranium mines on the outskirts of the Jamshedpur city has reportedly spilled over into the village ponds, wells and fields.
According to the sources, the spill over was obvious due to torrential rain as there is no way to divert the water flowing into the village.
After the uranium ore is mined and processed here, the "yellow cake'" is sent to the Nuclear Fuel Complex in Hyderabad for enrichment. The waste is then brought back to the UCIL (Uranium Corporation of India Limited) complex for further extraction, after which the waste is dumped, into the ponds.
Apprehending threat to lives, the villagers have reportedly stopped fetching water from the wells and ponds.
The UCIL admitted the spill over but said there is no threat to life due to radiation.
A team of scientists from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre visited the affected village and collected water samples for analysis.
(American Chronicle June 24, 2008)
The Turamdih uranium mill was inaugurated on June 25, 2007. The plant has a processing capacity of 3,000 tonnes of uranium ore per day. The construction cost was Rs 3.5 billion [US$ 86 million]. The plant will process the uranium ore extracted from the Turamdih and Mohuldih underground mines and the Banduhurang open cast mine.
(Times of India, June 25, 2007)
The East Sighbhum district administration has served a showcause notice on the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) for unauthorised mining in Fuljhari, Turamdih and another two new mines in Keuradungrui.
According to East Singhbhum Deputy Commissioner (DC) Nitin Kulkarni, UCIL illegally started mining, while the applications for mining are still pending with the State Government.
(Ranchi Express Oct. 16, 2006)
According to UCIL chairman-cum-managing director Ramendra Gupta, the Turamdih ore processing plant is to be commissioned by December, 2006. (PTI June 6, 2006)
The construction of the Turamdih uranium mill has begun and should be completed by 2006-2007. (PTI, March 19, 2005)
The new Turamdih uranium mine was opened on Nov. 9, 2002. (Times of India Nov. 2002)
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Kazatomprom signs uranium supply contract with Chinese
On Nov. 11, 2010, Kazatomprom and China Guangdong Nuclear Power Corporation (CGNPC) signed a long-term contract for the supply of natural uranium concentrates.
The details of the agreement were not revealed.
(Kazakhstan Today Nov. 11, 2010)
Kazakhstan to increase uranium exports to China
Kazakhstan will increase uranium shipments to China after its state nuclear company agreed a supply contract on Saturday (June 12).
Kazatomprom will supply uranium to China Guangdong Nuclear Power Corporation (CGNPC), details of which were not disclosed.
CGNPC -- which operates over 40 percent of China's nuclear power generating capacity -- said in April 2009 it would develop a uranium deposit in Kazakhstan with reserves of 40,000 tonnes together with Kazatomprom.
China plans to import a total of 24,200 tonnes of Kazakh uranium between 2008 and 2012.
(Reuters Jun. 12, 2010)
Kazakh ex-uranium boss sentenced to 14 years in jail for corruption
A Kazakh court sentenced a former uranium tycoon to 14 years in jail for theft and corruption on Friday (Mar. 12) in a case that has alarmed foreign investors working in the former Soviet republic.
One of Kazakhstan's most prominent business figures, Mukhtar Dzhakishev was arrested last year on accusations of corruption, theft and illegal sales of uranium assets to foreign companies.
The trial was held behind closed doors and involved hearings only into theft and corruption accusations.
"Prosecutors asked for 14 years. The court agreed with this decision," Dzhakishev's lawyer Nurlan Beisekeyev told reporters outside the court room. He said Dzhakishev planned to appeal the decision.
Dzhakishev, head of state uranium major Kazatomprom from 1998 until his arrest, has denied the accusations.
(Reuters Mar. 12, 2010)
Kazakhstan world's largest uranium producer in 2009
Kazakhstan will produce 13,900 tonnes of uranium this year and 18,000 tonnes in 2010, state nuclear company Kazatomprom said on Wednesday (Dec. 30), raising earlier forecasts.
The Central Asian state became the world's largest uranium producer this year and has been responsible for the bulk of global output growth in the last few years.
Kazakhstan produced 8,521 tonnes of uranium last year, up from 6,637 tonnes in 2007.
(Reuters Dec. 30, 2009)
Romania wants to buy uranium from Kazakhstan
Romania wants long-term contracts for uranium in Kazakhstan needed for the operation of two future nuclear reactors (Cernavoda 3 & 4). Economy Ministry State Secretary Tudor Serban said today (Tues): "The proposal met with a positive reaction. Talks will continue."
(Romanian Times Sep 15, 2009)
Uranium One to invest in Russian sulfuric acid plant as backup for its in-situ leach uranium mines in Kazakhstan
Uranium One Inc. said it plans to invest around $20 million in a Russian sulphuric acid plant as a back-up to secure supply.
"We intend to invest in a plant in Russia as a source of secure supply should there be another disruption in Kazakhstan," chief executive Neal Froneman told Reuters in an interview.
(Reuters Jan. 8, 2008)
Kazatomprom builds new sulphuric acid production plant to meet unfulfilled demand of uranium in-situ leach mines
The construction of the sulfuric acid plant in Zhanakorgan region, Kyzylorda oblast has been completed.
The construction of the plant is aimed at providing the uranium industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan with sulfuric acid which is the main reagent in the technology of uranium production by ISL method. The plant will supply sulfuric acid to the ISL mines based on the uranium deposits Khorassan-1, Khorassan-2, Northern and Southern Karamurun.
Kazakhstan block sulfur will be the raw material for production.
The plant's design capacity is expected to be 500,000 tons of sulfuric acid per year, or 1500 tons per day. Project's total cost is reported to be US$ 216 million.
(Kazatomprom Dec. 9, 2011)
On August 31, 2009, a solemn ceremony of laying a capsule into foundation of a new sulfuric acid plant in Zhanakorgan region, Kyzylorda oblast, took place.
The sulfuric acid project is being implemented in partnership with foreign investors - Marubeni Corp., TEPCO (Japan) and Uranium One (Canada). The design capacity of the plant will be 500,000 tons of sulfuric acid per year, i.e. 1,500 tons per day.
The start of operation is scheduled for the 4th quarter 2011.
Primary consumers of sulfuric acid will be two new ISL sites in Zhanakorgan region, namely, Khorassan-1 and Khorassan-2, as well as ISL mines in Shieli settlement - Irkol and Karamurun.
(Kazatomprom Aug. 31, 2009)
Kazakhstan's state nuclear company plans to build a 500,000-tonne-per-year sulphuric acid plant by 2010 to meet a shortfall of the main chemical reagent used in its uranium production. Kazatomprom, the world's third-largest uranium producer, said it would build the plant in southern Kazakhstan to serve two new mines being built in Kyzylorda region, which together will mine 5,000 tonnes a year of uranium.
"Construction will begin in March 2008. We plan to put the plant into production in the second quarter of 2010," an official from Kazatomprom's press service said by telephone.
(Reuters Nov. 13, 2007)
On November 7, 2007, public hearings took place in Zhanakorgan (Kyzylorda region) on the project of construction of sulfuric acid plant on the territory of Zhanakorgan area and the estimation of environmental impact in accordance with the requirements of the Ecological Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
(Kazatomprom Nov. 13, 2007)
China to get stake in uranium mine in Kazakhstan
China will get a stake in a 2,000-ton-a-year uranium mine in Kazakhstan in exchange for its share in a uranium-processing business, state-owned Kazatomprom said.
Output may even exceed 2,000 metric tons because of rising Chinese demand, Kazatomprom President Moukhtar Dzhakishev said at a press conference. The Kazakh uranium miner will get access to Chinese assets, he said, without elaborating.
Kazatomprom said it signed agreements in Beijing with China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group Co and China National Nuclear Corp, the country's largest producers of atomic energy.
The Chinese companies will create joint ventures with Kazatomprom to produce uranium, while enabling Kazatomprom to invest in the Chinese nuclear industry, the Kazakh miner said after the signing. The uranium will be sold to China as nuclear fuel, it said.
(China Daily Nov. 13, 2007)
Fire at sulfuric acid plant affects uranium production
A fire at a sulfuric acid production plant has led to rationing in Kazakhstan. KazAtomProm said supply problems should be resolved by the end of the year but it might have to revise uranium production forecasts for early 2008.
Sulfuric acid is used as the main chemical reagent in in-situ leaching (ISL) uranium production, which is able to extract uranium with no need for excavation. In addition to disruption by fire at one plant, the start-up of some new facilities has also been delayed. The result has been rationing of acid, which could continue into the second quarter of 2008.
The problem is particularly important for Kazakh uranium mining, which predominantly uses ISL and requires large amounts of non-reusable sulfuric acid to counter the neutralising effect of the high carbonate content of Kazakh orebodies.
(WNA Nov. 5, 2007)
European Union plans to procure more uranium from Kazakhstan
The EU has put forward plans for procuring more uranium from Kazakhstan for Europe's nuclear industry.
The EU's executive body has urged EU governments to agree a deal worth 500 million euros ($630 million) to help boost uranium supplies from Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan has the world's fifth-largest reserves of uranium.
According to the EU, it currently accounts for only 3% of uranium imports into the EU.
Any agreement between the EU and Kazakhstan must ultimately be ratified by EU member states.
(BBC News Oct. 24, 2006)
Kazatomprom to obtain shares in Russian and French enrichment plants in exchange for uranium deliveries?
Kazatomprom is conducting negotiations with Russian and French companies to obtain shares in uranium enrichment plants in these countries in exchange for uranium deliveries. It is not clear yet whether Kazatomprom's share in Russian plants will be in existing or in new enrichment plants. The negotiations are to be completed by early 2007.
(Kazakhstan Today May 23, 2006; Interfax Kazakhstan May 24, 2006)
In this context, it is highly interesting that the French Eurodif gaseous diffusion enrichment plant is to be replaced by a centrifuge enrichment plant using Urenco technology (view details).
Kazakhstan exporting uranium to China since 2001
Kazatomprom started uranium exports to China four years ago, supplying the first foreign uranium to China. Kazakhstan and China now plan to extend their strategic partnership in the nuclear fuel area. (Kazatomprom Dec. 23, 2005)
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Production increase planned at Inkay in situ leach uranium mine
On August 31, 2011, Cameco announced it has signed a memorandum of agreement with its partner, Kazatomprom, to increase annual uranium production at Joint Venture Inkai Limited Liability Partnership (JVI) from 3.9 million pounds [1,500 t U] to 5.2 million pounds [2,000 t U].
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Penalty imposed on Muyunkum ISL mine:
The Kazakhstan environmental department has imposed a penalty of 40 million Tenge (US$ 338,000) on KATCO for violations of environmental law.
(Kazakhstan Today Aug. 4, 2008)
As KATCO refused to pay, the environmental department now turns to the administrative court for a forced penalty.
(Kazakhstan Today Oct. 31, 2008)
Areva said a strengthened joint venture in Kazakhstan will step up uranium output with the intention of producing 4,000 tonnes per year of the radioactive metal, up until 2039.
Katco, 51 percent owned by Areva and 49 percent by Kazatomprom, will mine the uranium and Areva will sell it, the French state-controlled nuclear engineering group said.
An Areva spokesman said the new agreement is a major strengthening of an existing partnership, set up in 1996, and which produces about 1,000 tonnes of uranium per year.
(AFX Jun. 11, 2008)
In 2007, Areva plans to invest US$ 30 million into the Katco joint venture for the further development of the Muyunkum uranium in-situ leach mine. From 2004 to 2006, Areva invested a total of US$ 200 million. The planned production is 900 tons of uranium in 2007, 1500 tons in 2008, and 2000 tons in 2009.
The uranium is produced by the method of acidic underground leaching at a depth of 500 meters.
(Kazakhstan Today Dec. 8, 2006)
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New uranium ISL refinery completed
Kazatomprom commissioned a new refinery facility for the in-situ leach production of uranium at the Central Mining Group in southern Kazakhstan ahead of schedule. The in-situ leach plant has an initial annual capacity of 1700 tU, with a final capacity of 2000 tU. The new facility is to process Central Mining Group’s own uranium production and additional quantities from nearby mines including KATCO joint venture.
(Kazatomprom Nov. 7, 2003)
The plant, located in the village of Taukent in Suzak District in Southern Kazakhstan, was inaugurated on Feb. 25, 2004. The plant will process half of the current Kazakh uranium production, with the other half coming from the Ulba Metallurgical plant. (Kazakhstan Today Feb. 26, 2004)
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Kharasan Uranium Project at commissioning stage, still awaiting operating license
The Kharasan Uranium Project has commenced production but is in the commissioning stage. Commissioning will be completed when a pre-defined operating level, based on the design of the plant, is maintained and the Kazakhstan Government has issued an operating license.
(Uranium One Inc. Nov. 7, 2011)
Toshiba develops technology for by-product recovery of rare earths from uranium in situ leach mining
Toshiba Corp. said Monday (Nov. 29) it has developed technology for recovering rare-earth minerals in the process of extracting uranium from a uranium mine.
The major machinery maker said it plans to begin trials for the technology at a Kazakhstan mine possibly by the end of this year.
To extract the uranium, Toshiba has developed special electrode materials to extract rare-earth minerals dissolved in sulfuric acid poured into holes at a uranium mine.
Toshiba said the technology can recover about 5 percent of the rare earths used as magnet materials in Japan and it aims to commercialize the technology around 2012.
(Mainichi Nov. 30, 2010)
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North Korea offers export of uranium to Russia
North Korea has offered Russia exclusive rights to its natural uranium deposits in exchange for open support at the six-way talks on Pyongyang's nuclear weapons, a Japanese daily said.
Citing Russian government sources, the Tokyo Shimbun report said Moscow and Pyongyang had been in secret talks since 2002 over a plan for Russia to import the uranium and enrich it before selling it on as nuclear fuel to China and Vietnam, in what the sources said would be a highly profitable venture.
(Reuters Dec. 3, 2006)
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Terrorists eyeing uranium mines in Central Asia
International terrorist organizations are trying to gain access to uranium mines in Central Asia, the head of the anti-terrorism center for post-Soviet states said on Sep. 12, 2007.
Andrei Novikov, who heads the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Anti-Terrorism Center (ATC), said the ATC primarily concerned over "the security of uranium-producing enterprises in Kyrgyzstan."
However, he said, the security services of the Central Asian country had stepped up measures to prevent terrorists from entering sensitive facilities, and that the ATC's office in the country is cooperating with the security services.
(RIA Novosti Sep. 12, 2007)
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Kara-Balta mill stopped operations because of unstable deliveries of the Kazakh raw material
In connection with the instability of the delivery of raw material, the operation of the Kara-Balta mining combine is stopped since April 2010, reported the adviser of the director general of the enterprise, Zhalgap Kazakbaev, on June 9.
According to him, a letter was directed to Kazakhstan (the basic supplier of raw material) on behalf of the combine in order to solve this question.
(AKIPress June 9, 2010)
$200 million investment planned for Kara-Balta uranium mill
The Kara-Balta mining combine is planning to spend $200 million for the re-equipping of the Kara Balta uranium mill.
(AKIPress Oct. 10, 2008)
Kara Balta mill resumes uranium production
Kyrgyzstan's Kara-Baltinsky uranium-producing enterprise produced 36.4 tonnes of uranium in the first quarter of 2008, a source with the mining industry department at the Kyrgyz State Agency for Geology and Mineral Resources told Interfax.
The enterprise, in which UralPlatina Holding that consolidated the Renova Group's gold mining assets acquired a 72.3% stake in February 2007, did not produce uranium since 2005 given a lack of resources.
The enterprise plans to produce 50 tonnes of uranium in April 2008.
(Interfax Apr. 25, 2008)
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Burma allegedly mining uranium
Burma has uranium deposits, and the Ministry of Energy has identified five sources of ore in the country, all low-grade uranium unsuitable for military purposes. But the defectors claim that two more uranium mines in Burma are not included in official reports: one near Mohnyin in Kachin State and another in the vicinity of Mogok in Mandalay Division. The ore is supposedly transported to a Thabeikkyin refinery, conveniently located between the two alleged mines.
(YaleGlobal, 3 Dec. 2008)
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Russia consolidates uranium production assets in new company
A founding treaty to set up the Uranium Mining Company was signed on November 2, 2006, at Russia's Federal Agency for Nuclear Power (Rosatom).
TVEL will contribute three mining assets to the company: Hiagda, Priargunskoye Production Mining Chemical Association, and Dalur. Techsnabexport will contribute the Elkonskoye deposit in Yakutia and its share in the Russian-Kyrgyz-Kazakh JV Zarechnoye. In addition, the company may include Kazakhstan's Yuzhnoye Zarechnoye and Budyonnovskoye deposits, and set up JV Akbastau to develop them. Additionally, Techsnabexport is continuing talks to start up a uranium operation in Uzbekistan.
The new mining company will do several things: follow up exploration and exploitation of deposits located in Russia and development of the country's raw materials, including geological prospecting. The company is also expected to set up joint ventures to produce uranium in and outside the country, and import uranium.
In addition, it will channel Russian and foreign investments into uranium production. The new company may form a partnership with western investors to develop uranium deposits.
(RIAN Nov. 8, 2006)
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Court orders Krasnokamensk uranium mill to stop local lake pollution
The environmental protection prosecutor's office in the Baikal region achieved that the measures will be taken to stop the contamination of the Umykej lakes with toxic wastewaters from the Priargunsk mining and chemical plant. The Krasnokamensk city court satisfied a lawsuit, which the Chita district prosecutor in charge of environmental protection filed against one of the largest uranium producing plants in Russia and in the world.
The court ruled that the Priargunsk mining and chemical plant should build additional toxic waste treatment facilities and wastewater decontamination installations before 2013, the press service of the prosecutor's office in the Baikal region told Itar-Tass on Thursday (Oct. 20).
"The wastewater treatment facilities can treat no more than 24,000 cubic meters of wastewaters daily, but 39,000 cubic meters really pass through them," senior assistant prosecutor for public relations in the Baikal region Anatoly Uskov said.
As a result the content of zinc, phosphate, phenol, oil products, iron, magnesium, sulphates, nitrates and several other dangerous admixtures exceeds the permissible standards. The swimming and fishing are forbidden in the lakes long ago due to the accumulation of dangerous chemical substances.
(TASS Oct. 21, 2010)
New sulfuric acid plant opened for Krasnokamensk uranium mine
A new sulfate plant was opened in Zabaikalsky Region last week. It will provide for the stable work of Priargunskoe Production Mining and Chemical Union and help increase uranium production in the future. "Capacity of the new facility makes 180 thousand tons of sulfuric acid a year", reports Dmitry Shulga, a representative of the Uranium Holding ARMZ (Atomredmetzoloto).
The old production line was not able to meet the current demand of Chemical Union. The construction started 4 years ago and Priargunskoe Production Mining and Chemical Union spent 1.8 billion rubles [US$ 57.65 million] for this project.
(FederalPress June 23, 2009)
Russia invests into development of Krasnokamensk uranium mine
Russia intends to invest $2 billion in the development of Priargun Mining and Chemicals Association, the country's biggest uranium miner, Sergei Kiriyenko, head of the state Rosatom corporation, said.
Kiriyenko said that Priargun received 1.8 billion rubles [US$ 73.2 million] in funding last year and would get 3 billion rubles [US$ 122 million] next year. "We intend to invest around $2 billion in total to refurbish Priargun in the next few years," he said.
Two new mines are being built at Priargun. Kiriyenko said 1.6 billion rubles [US$ 65 million] had been budgeted for Mine #6 in 2009. The first stage of the mine should go on stream in 2019 and the second stage in 2024. Projected capacity is 1 million tonnes of uranium ore per year.
Mine #8 should be built in 2011 and will produce up to 400,000 tonnes of ore per year.
A third mine, Mine #7, capacity 250,000 tpa, could be built between 2014 and 2018.
In addition, a sulfuric acid plant, capacity 180,000 tpa, should be built by the end of this year. The plant, which will be tested in October, will make Priargun self-sufficient in sulfuric acid.
(Interfax Aug. 29, 2008)
Resettlement planned of 2000 residents living near Krasnokamensk uranium mine
Rosatom is planning to finance the resettlement of two thousand residents from ecologically hazardous Oktyabrskoe settlement located right over the uranium mine of the Priargun enterprise. Kiriyenko said his agency will allocate 600 million rubles [US$ 23.2 million], while Chita regional administration will earmark another 240 million [US$ 9.3 million].
"We shall open financing by the end of 2007 and the issue has to be resolved by the end of 2009. The construction of a new settlement is the only way to resolve the problem," Kiriyenko said.
(Itar Tass June 1, 2007)
Production increase expected for Krasnokamensk uranium mine
Priargunskoye will have to raise uranium production in the Krasnokamensk area from 3160 to 5000 t/a U in 2015. This shall be accomplished by new production from No.6 mine (1000 t/a) and No.8 mine (400 t/a). 15 billion rubles [US$ 580 million] of investments were necessary to develop and modernize the mining enterprise, according to head of Rosatom nuclear agency Sergey Kiriyenko. The explored uranium reserves in the Chita region comprise 144 thousand tons and prospecting can add another 40 thousand tons.
(RIA Novosti May 31, 2007; Itar Tass June 1, 2007)
TVEL seeks funding for extension of Krasnokamensk uranium mine
TVEL has applied to the Russian Economic Development and Trade Ministry for an allocation of 4.2 billion rubles [US$ 155 million] over four to five years from the Investment Fund to finance uranium mining at the Priargun mining complex in the Chita region, in particular the No.6 mine, "which will be developing this year and in the years to come." The investment in Priargun will total 5.6 billion rubles [US$ 207 million], of which TVEL will provide 1.4 billion rubles [US$ 52 million].
(Interfax May 30, 2006)
Production to almost double
Under the Natural Resources Ministry's plan, production at the country's largest uranium producer, the Priargunsky plant in Krasnokamensk, is set to almost double from 3,300 tons to more than 5,500 tons per year.
(Moscow Times Feb. 28, 2006)
In 2010, JSC Khiagda produced 135.1 tonnes of uranium by in situ leaching.
(Atomredmetzoloto Oct. 25, 2011)
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Production shortfall at Navoi uranium processing plant
The Navoi Mining and Metals Plant
produced 2,260 tonnes of uranium in 2006, which is 1.8% less than in
2005 (2,301 tonnes), an Uzbek government source told Interfax.
The decline in the uranium production was due to lack of financing
and technological problems resulting from it, the source said.
In particular, there were irregularities in the production of
sulfuric acid, which is used in uranium production, the source said. (Interfax Jan. 9, 2007)
Uranium production at Uzbekistan's Navoi Mining and Metals
Plant could be reduced by 1.8% in 2006 from the 2,301 tonnes of uranium in 2005,
a source in government circles told Interfax.
"According to forecasts, uranium mining this year could fall by
approximately 40 tonnes due to technical problems of an industrial
nature and insufficient funding," the source said.
(Interfax Dec. 8, 2006)
Navoi plant regains nearly full uranium output
After a production cut back by 23% in 2003, the Navoi uranium processing plant regained nearly full output (500 t) in the first quarter of 2004. The 2003 cut back had been caused from shortage of sulfuric acid supply and from worn equipment. The production increase had been possible with an upgrading of the sulfuric acid plant and the replacement of old equipment in the processing plant, financed by a $6 million loan said to be provided by Nukem Inc. (USA).
(Interfax April 20, 2004)
Navoi plans new attempt to raise uranium production
Uzbekistan is aiming to boost uranium mine-output (from 2,100 tonnes in 2002) 40% to 3,000 tonnes annually by 2010. (Interfax 23 Oct. 2003)
More than 50% Capacity Increase at Navoi plant planned
Details of a US$1 billion programme to modernise gold and
uranium producer Navoi Integrated
Mining and Metallurgical Plant have been announced. The
project would include new equipment enabling uranium production
to increase from the current 2000 tU/yr to between 3000 and 3500
tU/yr within two years. Discussions on the joint venture being
set up by Navoi and Nukem are reported to be
nearing completion. [UI News Briefing 96/27]
