New Uranium Mining Projects - South/Central America
(last updated 27 Jan 2010)
Contents:
In Argentina, uranium prospection and/or exploration is being performed by Calypso Uranium Corp. 
,
Energía Mineral S.A. ,
Consolidated Pacific Bay Minerals Ltd. ,
Mega Uranium Ltd.,
International Mineral Resources Ltd.,
United Energy Metals S.A.,
Laramide Resources Ltd.,
Wealth Minerals Ltd. ,
Madero Minerals S.A.,
Globe Metals & Mining Ltd ,
Yamiri Gold and Energy Inc. ,
Urex Energy Corp. ,
Portal Resources Ltd. ,
Cascadero Copper Corporation ,
Strategic Resources Ltd. ,
Argentina Uranium Corp. ,
Blue Sky Uranium Corp. ,
Uranio AG ,
Uranio del Sur S.A. ,
Cauldron Energy Ltd ,
UrAmerica PLC ,
Western Uranium Corp.
Areva considers construction of uranium mill in southern Argentina
Areva NC is investigating options regarding uranium resources in southern Argentina and is in cooperation with various owners including Urex Energy Corporation to support a potential central process facility. A minimum mineable uranium reserve necessary to support such a process facility is estimated at 22 million pounds of eU3O8 [8,462 t U]. The concept is that the mining of a number of satellite uranium ore bodies, controlled by different owners, would provide uranium ore feed to the central milling facility.
Urex Energy Corp. is conducting uranium exploration in the Chubut Province adjacent to Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica's (CNEA) Cerro Solo uranium deposit.
(Urex Energy Corporation March 24, 2009)
NGOs denounce irregular granting of land for uranium mine in La Rioja province
Environmentalist organizations and the Kirchnerism of La Rioja say that the provincial government of La Rioja has granted "in silence" almost 150 thousand hectares to a Canadian miner for the purpose of open-pit uranium mining.
In the denunciation the environmental organizations claimed that the government of Luis Beder Herrera, "without official announcement, nor public presentation of environmental impact studies, nor Public Hearing, has granted in total silence from 2007 to today 149,318 hectares of La Riojan territory to the Canadian company Rome Resources Ltd , through the Swiss company Uranio AG and its Argentine subsidiary Uranio del Sur SA".
(Los Andes Sep. 4, 2008)
On May 7, 2009, 2000 persons held a protest march from Juella to Tilcara against uranium exploration in the Quebrada de Humahuaca area.
(Vecinos Autoconvocados May 7, 2009)
The opponents of uranium exploration are planning to hold a protest march from Juella to Tilcara on May 7, 2009. This same day, the NGO Los Vecinos Autoconvocados de Tilcara will file its appeal with the Superior Court of Justice in San Salvador de Jujuy.
(Jujuy al día May 5, 2009)
After losing their case against the mining exploration permits in the Quebrada de Humahuaca area before the administrative court, the NGO Los Vecinos Autoconvocados de Tilcara now plans to file an appeal with the Superior Court of Justice.
(Jujuy al día April 28, 2009)
By judicial order, the Provincial Government of Jujuy suspended on Aug. 7, 2008, the proceedings of mining exploration in the zone of Tilcara. It also decided to restrain the orders of prospection in the region of the Yungas.
(Clarín Aug. 8, 2008)
On August 1, 2008, the NGO Los Vecinos Autoconvocados de Tilcara sued the Province of Jujuy in administrative court over the mining exploration permits issued in the Quebrada de Humahuaca area. (Vecinos Autoconvocados Aug. 3, 2008)
On July 10, 2008, two thousand residents of several localities of Quebrada de Humahuaca held a manifestation in Tilcara against uranium exploration permits awarded to Uranio del Sur SA in the UNESCO World Heritage area .
(Clarín July 12, 2008)
For opposition against uranium mining in Jujuy, see No a la contaminación en la Quebrada de Humahuaca (in Spanish)
Argentina announces discovery of uranium deposit in Jáchal department (San Juan province)
A uranium find was announced yesterday in the provincial capital San Juan by the national senator Caesar Ambrosio Gioja, president of the Commission of Mining, Energy and Fuel of the Senate.
The finding of the deposit, in the department of Jáchal, whose departmental head is 150 kilometers to the north of the capital, is in the stage of preliminary studies, therefore it was explained that although it is an important discovery, it is still premature to speak of mining of the mineral.
(Los Andes June 4, 2008)
Thousands protest in Catamarca against uranium mining
On Nov. 6, 2007, thousands of people marched in the central square of the city of Tinogasta to protest against uranium mining projects in the west of Catamarca province.
(Los Andes/El Ancasti Nov. 7, 2007)
Argentina's atomic energy commission CNEA has postponed uranium exploration that was underway in Catamarca province due to a lack of budget. (BNamericas Nov. 27, 2007)
> See also Sierra Pintada uranium mine
> View deposit info
> See also Calypso Uranium Corp. files claim to set aside anti-mining law in Mendoza Province
Uranium mining in San Rafael is opposed by ¿Uranio? No Gracias .
The owners of uranium properties in the touristic zone of Cañón del Diamante are taking legal action against further exploration by Canadian company Mega Uranium Ltd. (formerly Maple Minerals Corp.).
(Diario Uno May 31, 2006)
> View deposit info
On Aug. 4, 2009, Calypso Uranium Corp. announced that it received provincial approval for the exploration phase of the Huemul Project. According to Calypso President J. Stephen Barley, "Malargüe shows the potential to produce uranium again."
> View deposit info
CNEA seeks to clarify Cerro Solo strategy early 2005:
Argentina's atomic energy commission, the CNEA, will clarify early in 2005 its strategy for restarting work at its Cerro Solo uranium deposit in the southern province of Chubut, according to CNEA geology chief Luis López.
The strategy will involve forming a partnership with a private company, launching a new auction for the project or seeking a third, as yet unclear alternative, López said.
(BNamericas Dec 8, 2004)
Further delay ahead for Cerro Solo sell-off:
Argentina's atomic energy commission (CNEA) will not be able to proceed with the sell-off of the Cerro Solo uranium deposit in Chubut province until the beginning of 2004 due to a change of provincial government after elections on November 2, 2003. The CNEA will have to wait for the new parliament in the southern province to define the area around Cerro Solo as an exclusion zone with respect to a law prohibiting open-pit mining there.
(BNamericas Sep 10, 2003)
Additional interested parties will be sought in a new auction, to be held in 45-60 days, for the Cerro Solo uranium deposit, according to a source from the National Commission of Atomic Energy (CNEA). The CNEA earlier rejected a bid from the consortium of mining company Mining World and Canadian consultant John Thomson because "it did not comply with the tender's requirements". The Cerro Solo deposit, in Chubut province, has 4600 tonnes U3O8 (3900 tU) in reserves, including 2600 tonnes U3O8 (2205 tU) proven and 2000 tonnes U3O8 (1696 tU) probable. The proven ore grade is estimated at about 0.35% U3O8. (UI News Briefing 01.14, April 4, 2001; CNN March 27, 2001)
> View deposit info
CNEA is working to reactivate the Don Otto uranium project in Salta province. The Don Otto mine is being explored and evaluated to measure its economic feasibility. "Right now, we cannot say whether it will be reactivated or not," said Gian Franco Guidi, CNEA representative for northwestern Argentina.
(BNamericas Nov. 27, 2007)
The re-opening of the Don Otto uranium mine will be formally initiated in early August 2007, when the minister of Planning, the governor of Salta, and the president of the national atomic energy commission (CNEA), sign a cooperation agreement. The mine will produce 30 tonnes of uranium per year.
(Clarín Aug. 1, 2007)
Dioxitek S.A. , the industrial arm of Argentina's national atomic energy commission CNEA, and La Casualidad S.A., controlled by Salta province, are touching up the details of an agreement to operate jointly the Don Otto uranium mine.
CNEA mined Don Otto between 1955 and 1981 but was forced to shut it down when uranium prices fell.
"Now with Salta's offer to activate the deposit, we are rehabilitating it to move ahead with exploration and continue extracting what remained from previous mining," CNEA production manager Alberto Castillo said.
(BNamericas July 17, 2007)
The Argentinian National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) and the Salta Provincial Government (both via subsidiary entities) have reached an agreement for the re-opening of the Don Otto Uranium Mine. (Globe Uranium Ltd June 12, 2007)
In Bolivia, uranium prospection and exploration is being performed by Intrepid Mines Ltd , Mega Uranium Ltd.
IAEA offers aid for Bolivia to exploit uranium
The United Nations announced on Mar. 27, 2009, its disposition to cooperate with Bolivia on the exploration and exploitation of uranium mines.
Bolivia has uranium deposits, but the government has classified the information as "reserved."
According to reports from the Canadian company Mega Uranium - Intrepid Mines , the uranium mine is situated in the plateau.
Meanwhile, the National Service of Geology and Mining (Sergeotecmin ) identified 11 locations with uranium in natural state in the district of Cotaje between the towns of Huari in Oruro and Sevaruyo in the border area between both departments and Mulato River in Potosí.
But technical reports say that those are not uranium concentrated deposits, but "small points"; and the amount of the reserves are unknown due to lack of investment in the quantification work.
(Xinhua Mar. 27, 2009)
Restart of Cotaje uranium mine possible in Potosí (Bolivia)
Potosí Province Mining Secretary Carlos Colque says the government will consider restarting a uranium mine at the Cotaje deposit.
As reported, Colque said the government is considering beginning production by 2010 if uranium reserves are confirmed.
He added that the province has invested about 2 million bolivianos ($283,000) in the project.
However, Mining Ministry Director Freddy Beltrán said the central government isn't involved in the project at the Cotaje deposit. As reported, Beltrán said a uranium production plant in the same location closed 25 years ago.
(Mineweb May 29, 2009)
Russia and Brazil sign memorandum on nuclear cooperation, including uranium exploration
Russia and Brazil signed a memorandum of cooperation on peaceful uses of nuclear energy on Tuesday (July 21), Russian media reported.
The pact calls for the development of uranium prospecting technology and the design of new reactors, as well as the design and construction of nuclear research reactors.
(Latin American Herald Tribune July 22, 2009)
Rosatom offers Brazil assistance with uranium exploration
Russian nuclear holding Rosatom offers assistance with uranium exploration to Brazil. Rosatom chief Sergej Kirijenko believes that Brazilian uranium resources could be increased by a factor of three or even ten, if state-of-the-art exploration techniques would be used.
(RIA Novosti Oct. 31, 2008)
> View deposit info
INB selects private partner for mining of Santa Quitéria uranium/phosphate deposit
On June 19, 2008, Brazil's state-run nuclear mining and fuel company INB chose local fertilizers producer Galvani as the private partner to mine phosphate and uranium at the Santa Quitéria reserve.
The INB, which has the monopoly rights on uranium mining in the country with the world's sixth biggest reserves of the radioactive metal, will get the uranium produced at the mine and Galvani will keep the phosphate, used as fertilizer.
Family-owned Galvani is Brazil's only integrated producer of phosphate fertilizers.
The Santa Quitéria prospect has a capacity to produce 240,000 tonnes of phosphate a year and 1,600 tonnes of uranium ore, the INB said in a statement. The private company will invest $350 million in the project.
Santa Quitéria in the northeastern Ceará state would churn out 800 tonnes of uranium in 2011 and then gradually boost output to 1,600 tonnes later, allowing Brazil to export over 1,000 tonnes of excess metal.
(Reuters June 19, 2008)
Brazilian fertilizer company Grupo Galvani will sign a 25-year contract with Brazil Nuclear Industries, or INB, to develop a uranium and phosphates mine at Itataia, the Estado news agency reported Monday (July 20, 2009).
The contract, worth 800 million Brazilian reals ($420 million), will be signed next Thursday (July 23).
The new unit will start operating in 2012 and will have initial output of 180,000 metric tons of phosphate and 1,200 tons a year of uranium concentrate.
INB said when production eventually reaches 1,600 tons a year of concentrate, Brazil would be able to meet the demand for new nuclear plants planned.
(Dow Jones July 20, 2009)
INB hopes to get uranium export clearance for Santa Quitéria phosphate and uranium mining project to become viable
Brazil's state-run nuclear mining and fuel company INB hopes to get government clearance to start exporting uranium as part of a plan to quadruple production by 2011 and expand prospecting.
Luis Felipe da Silva, INB president's special aide for new projects, said the Santa Quitéria phosphate and uranium mining project, which would involve a private partner to mine phosphates, hinged on the liberalization of exports.
So far, Brazil's laws make uranium mining and trade a state monopoly and do not permit exports.
Santa Quitéria in the northeastern Ceará state would churn out 800 tonnes of uranium in 2011 and 1,200 tonnes later on, allowing Brazil to export over 1,000 tonnes of excess metal.
Guilherme Camargo, a director at the Brazilian Nuclear Energy Association (ABEN) industry lobby, warned that without the green light for exports Santa Quitéria was doomed to fail.
(Reuters Dec. 10, 2007)
> View deposit info
> View more recent issues
Between April 20 and 23, 2000, an estimated 5000 cubic meters of uranium-bearing leaching liquid leaked from a collection pond at the heap leaching facility of the Lagoa Real / Caetité mine. The pond liner, consisting of an HDPE membrane based on a compacted clay layer, obviously leaked. The event had become known only on July 11, 2000, by a denouncement of nine plant workers to the state attorney of Caetité. (Gambá Oct. 26, 2000 / Jan. 9, 2001)
The new 400 t/year uranium processing plant at Lagoa Real / Caetité has started production on June 24, 2000. INB anticipates increasing output to 700-800 tU3O8 (594-678 tU) per year by 2004. [UI News Briefing 00.29]
The uranium is recovered by heap leaching with sulfuric acid.
The discovery of a uranium deposit spread over 600 kilometres square in the Brazilian state of Pará was announced by the Company of Research of Minerals Resources (CPRM) , an affiliate of the Ministry of Mines and Energy . A geologist at CPRM said that Brazil would benefit from the Pará deposit only if the price of uranium on the international market exceeded US$40-60 per pound. (UI News Briefing 00.16, April 19, 2000)
In Chile, uranium prospection and/or exploration is being performed by
Lefroy Resources Ltd ,
Polar Star Mining Corporation ,
U3O8 Energy Ltd ,
U3O8 Holdings plc ,
Corporación Nacional del Cobre (Codelco) ,
Minera America del Sur SCM,
Southern Hemisphere Mining Ltd
By the end of the year, state-owned copper company Corporación Nacional del Cobre (Codelco) will be working with Chile's Nuclear Energy Commission to determine the feasibility of extracting uranium from its northern Chuquicamata and Radomiro Tomic mines, reported Chilean daily El Mercurio this week.
(Santiago Times Sep. 3, 2008)
In Colombia, uranium prospection and/or exploration is being performed by
Energentia Resources Inc.,
Mega Uranium Ltd.,
Blue Sky Uranium Corp. ,
UrAmerica PLC ,
Lara Exploration Ltd. ,
Sprott Resource Corp.
In Ecuador, uranium prospection and/or exploration is being performed by
Spirit Exploration, Inc. ,
Bolivar Mining Corp.
Russia, Ecuador strike deal on nuclear power cooperation, including uranium mining
Russia and Ecuador have signed a memorandum on civilian nuclear power cooperation, a spokesman from Russia's state-controlled civilian nuclear power corporation Rosatom told RIA Novosti on Friday (Aug. 21).
The memorandum between Rosatom and Ecuador's Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy includes cooperation in geological research and development of uranium fields, as well as projecting and building nuclear power plants and research reactors. Cooperation would also involve nuclear fuel production and developing the legal framework for Ecuador's nuclear sector.
(RIA Novosti Aug. 21, 2009)
IAEA to assist Ecuador with uranium exploration
The International Atomic Energy Agency will help Ecuador explore for uranium and study the possibility of developing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, its director said Tuesday.
Mohamed ElBaradei said the Vienna-based U.N. agency has included Ecuador in "a regional uranium exploration project" as the Andean nation seeks energy security through the development of alternative energy sources.
(International Herald Tribune Mar. 25, 2009)
In Guatemala, uranium prospection and/or exploration is being performed by
Pathfinder Resources Ltd. , Gold-Ore Resources Ltd. , Santoy Resources Ltd.
In Guyana, uranium prospection and/or exploration is being performed by
Prometheus Resources Guyana Inc. ,
U3O8 Corp. ,
StrataGold Corporation ,
Epsilon Energy Ltd.
Iran assists Guyana with uranium prospection
Guyana says Iran is providing a $1.5 million grant to boost the South American country's health care system and help it map mineral resources under a recently signed agreement.
President Bharrat Jagdeo says Iranian scientists will identify uranium deposits using updated technology, replacing the current prospecting system.
(The Post-Standard Jan. 27, 2010)
In Mexico, uranium prospection and/or exploration is being performed by
Fronteer Development Group Inc.,
Kennecott Exploration Company, Geoinformatics Exploration Inc. ,
Laramide Resources Ltd.,
Tonogold Resources, Inc. ,
Prospect Uranium, Inc. ,
NWT Uranium Corp.,
Azure Minerals Ltd
Kennecott fined for illegal uranium extraction
Rio Tinto's subsidiary Kennecott was fined for illegally mining uranium in the Loxicha region in southern Mexico's Oaxaca state. Its license was canceled. Under Mexican law, uranium extraction and processing is the sole prerogative of the state. Kennecott carried out surface exploration and drilling on three concessions in Oaxaca, named Elvira I, II and III until October 1999.
(unomásuno, Dec 18, 2001)
In Paraguay, uranium prospection and exploration is being performed by
Coronel Oviedo Mining Company SA,
Crescent Resources Corp. ,
Cue Resources Ltd. ,
Transandes Paraguay S.A. ,
Wildhorse Energy Ltd ,
Cameco Corp.,
Yellow Cat Uranium PLC ,
Picomayo Minerales SA
> View deposit info
On September 10, 2008, Cue Resources Ltd. announced that Transandes Paraguay S.A. has received the Paraguayan government grant of exploration and exploitation rights to the Yuty uranium project.
On Sep. 11, 2008, Cue Resources Ltd. announced that Transandes Paraguay S.A. is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Cue.
In Peru, uranium prospection and exploration is being performed by
Eldorado Gold Corporation ,
Solex Resources Corp. ,
Vena Resources Inc. ,
MINERGIA S.A.C. ,
Cameco Corporation,
Range Resources Ltd ,
Westmag Ltd ,
Wealth Minerals Ltd. ,
Cardero Resource Corp. ,
Macusani Yellowcake Inc. ,
Lefroy Resources Ltd ,
Alara Resources Ltd ,
Fission Energy Corp.,
Alturas Minerals Corp. ,
Bolivar Mining Corp.
"Uranium ore from the Macusani project in Peru is being shipped to North America for final metallurgical testing, at the request of a 'uranium major', Strathmore Resources has announced. If the tests are successful, Strathmore says, it will be able to produce uranium profitably from the project at current market prices." [UI News Briefing 98/44]
Uruguay considers launching bid for uranium exploration
Authorities at Uruguay's national mining and geology department Dinamige are considering launching a bid for uranium exploration, Dinamige head Luis Ferrari told BNamericas.
The entity was unprepared for the degree of interest shown by a number of companies in exploring there and is now considering launching a bid in areas of interest.
The official said interested parties have until mid-September 2007 to present proposals.
Uruguayan mining law establishes that minerals with energy purposes receive special treatment and the state holds exclusive mining rights. As such, bidding processes are necessary for third-party exploratory studies, the official said.
(Business News Americas July 30, 2007)
Uruguay to invite companies for uranium exploration
Montevideo will shortly issue an invitation to potential investors and mining outfits to conduct further uranium exploration. (FT May 14, 2007)
Iran assists Venezuela with search for uranium deposits
Iran is helping Venezuela to detect uranium deposits and initial evaluations suggest reserves are significant, the South American government said Friday (Sep. 25) -- the same day world leaders criticized the Islamic republic of secretly building a uranium-enrichment plant that could be used to make an atomic bomb.
Mining Minister Rodolfo Sanz said Iran has been assisting Venezuela with geophysical survey flights and geochemical analysis of the deposits, and that evaluations "indicate the existence of uranium in western parts of the country and in Santa Elena de Uairén," in southeastern Bolívar state.
(Boston Globe Sep. 25, 2009)
Venezuela, Russia sign accord on nuclear cooperation
A cooperation agreement for the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes between the governments of Venezuela and Russia was passed by the National Assembly this week and published in the Official Gazette.
The Gazette No. 368,817 published on May 4th, offers details of the agreement, which provides for the exploration and development of uranium and thorium (radioactive minerals) deposits and their use for "peaceful purposes."
The agreement also includes the development of nuclear infrastructure, the safety of nuclear facilities and radioactive sources, industrial production of components and materials to be used in nuclear reactors, among others.
(El Universal, Caracas, May 8, 2009)
Venezuela and Russia have signed an agreement on the cooperation in the field of the peaceful use of nuclear power. Among others, the agreement covers the development of uranium and thorium deposits.
(RIA Novosti Nov. 27, 2008)
