Uranium mineral-resources: the current state and perspectives for development. Review

Abstract

The article covers current state, prospects of development, priority directions of reproduction and expansion of the uranium mineral resource base of the Russian nuclear industry. The state of the uranium mining industry in Russia and for individual uranium mining enterprises as Priargun Production Mining and Chemical Corporation PJSC, Hiagda JSC and Dalur JSC is characterized. The main plans for the development of uranium mining enterprises and existing problems are reflected. Within the framework of the problem, promising provinces, regions and specific exploration objects are presented, which require forecast-thematic, prognostic-mineragenic and prospecting works. According to the basic scenario of the development of the world nuclear power industry, uranium mining by 2030 should increase by 1,5 times. Production at operating mines will decline, and the planned new mines will only be able to compensate for the outgoing capacity. It is planned an additional 30 thousand tons of uranium per year will be extracted at new promising mines. Despite the depressive uranium market, uranium mining in 2016 reached 62 thousand tons – a historic maximum since 1988. The total uranium resource is more than sufficient to ensure the long-term needs of nuclear industry. In-situ underground leaching becomes main method of uranium extraction since 2010. Rosatom has acquired a Canadian public company Uranium One in 2010 in order to secure long-term uranium supply for Russian nuclear fuel cycle chain. Rosatom has consolidated on its basis high-performance uranium assets in Kazakhstan and in other countries. Uranium One has increased annual production almost 5 times during the last 8 years and became a fourth global U producer.