13.04.2007 // PR Directorate of TVEL

TVEL has got licenses for five uranium deposits in Buriatia

The Territorial Agency for Subsurface Use of Buriatia has confirmed TVEL’s feasibility reports on the development of five uranium deposits in the republic (Istochny, Kolichkansky, Dybrynsky, Namarussky and Koretkondinsky) and has sent necessary documents to the Federal Agency for Subsurface Use for licensing. The agency says that the reports fully comply with the requirements of the tender for the deposits development announced in Dec 2006. The C1+C2 prospected reserves of the deposits make up 17,700 tons, the forecast reserves – 12,200 tons more.

The licenses will be given to TVEL rather than individual uranium-extracting companies, says the acting president of the corporation A. Badenkov.

All the deposits are located within a radius of 5–7 km from the Khiagda uranium field so one of the possible scenarios of their development is the enlargement of the existing Khaigda OJSC and the redoubling of its capacity. According to the company’s plans, in 2015 it will extract 2,000 tons of uranium a year.

Khaigda is one of the three uranium-extracting companies of Russia. It develops Khiagda uranium deposit (C1+C2 category: prospected reserves — 11,300 tons) by underground leaching technology.

Presently, uranium extraction in Russia is carried out exclusively by TVEL enterprises: Priargun Mining and Chemical Combine OJSC (Chita region), Dalur CJSC (Kurgan region) and Khiagda OJSC (Republic of Buriatia). In 2006 they extracted 3,200 tons of uranium.