IAEAInternational Atomic Energy Agency

Uranium Production Cycle Programmeat the

International Atomic Energy AgencyNovember 2009 Edition

IAEA

• What is the Agency's mission?

• The IAEA is an independent intergovernmental organisation in the United Nations family, that serves as the global focal point for nuclear co-operation. It: • assists its Member States in planning for and using nuclear science and technology ….. and facilitates the transfer of technology and knowledge ….to … Member States;

• develops nuclear safety standards and …… promotes the achievement and maintenance of high levels of safety in applications … and … the protection of human health and the environment against ionizing radiation;

• verifies through its inspection system that States comply with their commitments …….. only for peaceful purposes.

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IAEA sub-programme 1.2.1 (former B1):Uranium Resources and Production,

Databases for the Nuclear Fuel Cycle• To be achieved by promoting understanding;

• Sub-programme position in the IAEA organization• Projects and activities within the sub-programme • Outputs and outcomes from the sub-programme• IAEA Technical cooperation within the sub-

programme coverage

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The IAEA Organisational Chart

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IAEA Sub-programme on Uranium

• IAEA Programme 1.2: Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Materials Technologies• Sub-programme 1.2.1: Uranium Resources

and Production, Databases for the Nuclear Fuel Cycle• Project 1.2.1.1: Updating Uranium

Resources, Supply & Demand and Nuclear Fuel Cycle Databases

• Project 1.2.1.2: Supporting Good Practices in Uranium Production

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IAEA Subprogramme on Uranium

Project 1.2.1.1: Updating Uranium Resources, Supply & Demand and Nuclear Fuel Cycle Databases

• Uranium Group secretariat & Red Book preparation etc.• Analysis of Uranium Supply to 2060• UDEPO content (a database of uranium deposits)• IAEA Symposium on Uranium (URAM-2009)

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Uranium Resources

• RED BOOKssince 1965

• Uranium YEAR: Resources, Production and Demand

• Sources: governmental reports, secretariat reports and estimates

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Uranium Resources• NEA/IAEA Classification Scheme for Uranium Resources

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Uranium Resources

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Uranium Resources

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Thorium Resources

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Uranium Resources

• Forty years of uranium exploration, resources,production & demand:

• The “so called”RED BOOK Retrospective

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Uranium Resources

• Forty years of uranium production cycle activities country by country:

• RED BOOK Retrospective CountryReports

• Sources: Red Books, IUREP, other (SG open sources?)

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Uranium Resources

• Fifty year outlook on availability of uranium resources – an update and upgrade

• Analysis of Uranium Supply to 2060 (and maybe longer)

• Sources: Red Books, IUREP, internet, ……..

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Estimated Uranium Production in 2008total 46000 tU

21%

20%

18%9%

8%

8%

5%5% 6%

KazakhstanCanadaAustraliaNamibiaRussiaNigerUSAUzbekistanothers

Uranium Production

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Uranium Production

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Uranium Production

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Uranium ProductionPercentage distribution of world production by

production method

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Uranium ProductionDevelopment of Uranium Production Distribution by

Material Source

13 13 17 15 16 18 18 20 20 25 28

32 40 36 43 44 43 42 39 4040 38

49 39 35 28 26 27 30 28 28 24 24

6 8 12 14 14 12 10 13 12 11 10

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

OtherOpen pitUndergroundISL

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Uranium Demand

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Uranium Databases

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Uranium Databases• UDEPO (a Database of Uranium Deposits)

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Uranium Databases

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Uranium Databases

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Uranium Databases

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Uranium Databases

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IAEA Sub-programme on Uranium

• IAEA Programme 1.2: Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Materials Technologies• Sub-programme 1.2.1: Uranium Resources

and Production, Databases for the Nuclear Fuel Cycle• Project 1.2.1.1: Updating Uranium Resources, Supply

& Demand and Nuclear Fuel Cycle Databases• Project 1.2.1.2: Supporting Good Practices in

Uranium Production

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IAEA Sub-programme on Uranium

Project 1.2.1.2: Supporting Good Practices in Uranium Production

• Uranium exploration • Uranium mining & milling technologies• Uranium mining and milling products/wastes (with WTS)• Remediation after uranium mining and milling and their

closure (with WTS & WES) all topics including ENVIRONMENTAL TASKS

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Good Practices in Uranium ProductionFinalizing documents on:

• Best Practice in Environmental Management of Uranium Mining

• Establishment of Uranium Mining and Processing Operations in the Context of Sustainable Development

• Status of Radioelement Mapping – towards a Global Radioelement Baseline

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Good Practices in Uranium Production

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Good Practices in Uranium Production

Preparing documents on:

• Uranium production economics, cost accounting, and the reality of market based economy

• Good practices in uranium mining, milling and development, extraction, production and closure

• Uranium exploration, highlighting advanced aerial and ground geophysical techniques

• Recent developments in in-situ leach mining

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Publications

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Publications

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Publications

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IAEA Meetings in 2006• TM on Aerial and Ground Geophysical Techniques for

Uranium Exploration and Advanced Mining and Milling Methods and Equipment, 20-24 March 2006, Singbhum, India

• TC (CPR3007) WS on Exploration Techniques for Sandstone Type Uranium Deposits and In Situ Leach Mining, 15-24 May 2006, Fuzhou (Linchuan), China

• TM on In-Situ Leaching of Uranium Deposits, 30 Aug-1 Sep 2006, Almaty, Kazakhstan

• TM on Uranium Exploration, Mining, Production, Mine Remediation and Environmental Issues, 2 - 6 October 2006, Mendoza, Argentina

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IAEA Meetings in 2006

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IAEA Meetings in 2007• TM on Uranium Small-Scale and Special Mining and

Processing Technologies, 19 – 22 June 2007, Vienna, Austria

• TM on Uranium Exploration, Mining, Production, Mine Remediation and Environmental Issues, 1 - 5 October 2007, Swakopmund, Namibia

• TM on Recent Developments in Exploration, Resources,Production and Demand, 1 - 2 November 2007, Vienna, Austria together with

• the 41st Uranium Group Meeting, 29 - 31 October 2007, Vienna, Austria

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IAEA Meetings in 2008• 42st Uranium Group Meeting, 13-17 June 2008, Adelaide,

South Australia, Australia • TM on Implementing the Best Practices in Uranium Mining,

Milling and Production, 15 – 17 October 2008, Vienna, Austria

• TM on Uranium Exploration, Mining, Production, Mine Remediation including Environmental Issues, 17 - 21 November 2008, Amman, Jordan

• TC (RLA 3006) WS on Uranium Exploration, Mining, Production, Mine Remediation including Environmental Issues, 24 - 28 November, Salvador, Brazil

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Past training events

InterregionalMadagascar1982Uranium Exploration MethodsInterregionalYugoslavia1981Uranium Ore ProcessingLatin AmericaBolivia1981Uranium Exploration MethodsInterregionalUSA1978Uranium Exploration and EvaluationInterregionalYugoslavia1977Geochemical prospecting for UraniumInterregionalAustria1975Geochemical prospecting for UraniumAsiaIndia1974Uranium Exploration and EvaluationSpainInterregional1970Uranium Ore AnalysisLatin AmericaArgentina1969Uranium Exploration and EvaluationRegionHost countryYear Training events

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Past training events

AfricaZambia1993Computerized databases in Mineral Exploration and Development

AsiaIndia1991Exploration Drilling and Ore reserves Estimation

InterregionalBrazil1985Exploration Drilling and Ore reserves Estimation

InterregionalFrance1984Processing of Uranium – from Mining to Fuel Fabrication

InterregionalSpain1983Uranium Ore ProcessingInterregionalYugoslavia1983Uranium Deposit EvaluationLatin AmericaArgentina1969Uranium Exploration and EvaluationRegionHost countryYear Training events

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Past training events

InterregionalCanada1990sUranium Geology, Exploration and Environment

InterregionalUSA1998Uranium In Situ Leaching: Its Planning, Operation and Restoration

Middle East& Asia

France1995Uranium Mining: Its Operation, Safety and Environmental Aspects

AsiaChina1993Spatial Data Integration for Uranium Exploration, Resource Assessment and Environmental Studies

RegionHost countryYear Training events

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IAEA Technical Cooperation

Sub-programme 1.2.1: Uranium Resources and Production, Databases for the Nuclear Fuel Cycle

supports Technical Cooperation projects within the Uranium Production Cycle

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Ongoing TC Projects

Regional Upgrading of Uranium Exploration, Exploitation and Yellowcake Production Techniques taking Environmental Problems into Account

Regional LatinAmerica

Uranium geochemistry, mineralogy and host rock uranium deposit description

Pakistan

Airborne and Ground Gamma-Ray Spectrometry for Radio-element Mapping for Environmental Purposes and for Exploration of Uranium Resources

Egypt

Study of the Key Problems in Prospecting for Sandstone-Type Uranium Deposits and their Amenability to In-Situ Leach (ISL) Mining in the Basins in Northern China

China

Geology Favourability, Production Feasibility and Environmental Impact Assessment of Uranium Deposits to be Exploited using In Situ Leaching Technology

ArgentinaTitle of the Technical Cooperation ProjectCountry/Region

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Starting TC Projects

Exploración de los recursos uraníferos de VenezuelaVenezuela

Strengthening regional capabilities for uranium mining, milling and regulation of related activities

Regional AfricaUranium extractionJordanUranium explorationJordan

Evaluation of some selected uranium resources in Egypt and production and purification of the yellow cake

EgyptIntegrated assistance to institutions supporting nuclear power programmeChina

Techniques And Methods For Optimization Of Uranium Exploration in Both Sedimentary and Volcanic Basins

China

Practical guidance tools for nuclear safety analysis of remediation and decommissioning actions of the first uranium ore mining and milling facility in Brazil

Brazil

Contribution to the development of activities for the processing of Algerian ores and purification of uranium concentrates

AlgeriaTitle of the Technical Cooperation ProjectCountry/Region

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WNU School of Uranium Production• The WNU School of Uranium Production (WNU-SUP) combines the infrastructure of DIAMO with the expertise of major companies and experts;

• Courses under development and delivery:• Uranium Geology and Deposits• Exploration for Uranium Deposits• ISL Mining (operators, executives, regulators)• Alkaline Processing• Heap Leaching• Uranium Mill Tailings Remediation• Underground Mining

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UMREG activity• Uranium Mining Remediation Exchange Group:

• History: more than 15 years• Organised: by WISMUT and US DOE, others have

joined in over time• Latest meeting: during UM&H in Freiberg, Germany in

September 2008• Next meeting: October 2009, within ICEM 2009 in UK

• FUTURE: results are planned to be published by the IAEA and expand as a network

One possibility is as UM&REG (or UMAREG)Uranium Mining & Remediation Exchange Group,which would change its quality and bring extended future use

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International URAM & UPC Conferences

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

• Peter Bartsch, Uranium Production Specialist• +43 1 2600 22470, p.bartsch@iaea.org• Nuclear Fuel Cycle & Materials Section• Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste

Technology • Department of Nuclear Energy• International Atomic Energy Agency (VIC)• Wagramer Strasse 5• P.O. Box 100• A-1400 Vienna, Austria