Russia has urged Slovakia to join its uranium enrichment centre in Angarsk in East Siberia as part of Moscow's non-proliferation initiative. This was announced here Thursday by visiting Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov after talks with his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico.
The centre is part of Moscow's non-proliferation initiative to create a network of enrichment centres under the supervision of UN nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The centre is based at a chemical plant in Angarsk in Siberia and will also be responsible for disposal of nuclear waste.
"We propose our Slovakian partners join the international uranium enrichment centre that is being built by Russia," Zubkov said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin first raised the idea of joint nuclear enrichment centres early last year, in a bid to defuse tension over Iran's controversial nuclear programme.
The president said the centres would give countries access to civilian nuclear technology without provoking international fears that enriched uranium could be used for covert weapons programmes.
Iran's president says uranium enrichment program non-negotiable
Iran's president says uranium enrichment program non-negotiable
Iran rejects any new incentives offered by world powers in return for suspending its nuclear enrichment program, the Islamic Republic's president said in an interview published on Friday.
"This [enrichment moratorium] is a non-negotiable subject," Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said.
"Iran is a nuclear country and has no reason to give up the technology," he said.
The president also reiterated that Iran does not intend to negotiate with the West, but will cooperate solely with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The UN Security Council passed a resolution on March 3, imposing a third round of economic sanctions against Iran over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment.
A British company has found huge reserves of uranium deposits in southern Chile's Bio Bio region, Spain's EFE news agency EFE reported Friday. The Britain-based company U308 Holdings has found uranium deposits in the Cajones area of southern Concepcion city, the news agency quoted the El Mercurio newspaper as saying.
The deposits were discovered in one of the nine blocs where the company is conducting tests, the company officials said.
The deposits were discovered in one of the nine blocs where the company is conducting tests, the company officials said.
Officials said it would be too early to determine whether the uranium deposits would be economically viable for mining, the report said.
In addition to Cajones, chances are also good of finding uranium in Peralillo, an exploration bloc located near Los Angeles, another city in Bio Bio.
"We are excited with the initial results of the geochemicals in Cajones," U308 Holdings Plc president Conrad Winham said.
The analysis of the exploration blocs would be completed in mid-April when the company would be able to say the size of the total deposits, he added.
Eskom's uranium consumption may reach 4 000 t/y by 2025
South African State-owned power util- ity Eskom's uranium consumption could increase by more than ten times to 4 000 t/y by 2025, from the current figure of 330 t/y, as it planned to add 20 000 MW of nuclear generation capacity by that time, a company official said at this year's uranium conference.
South African State-owned power util- ity Eskom's uranium consumption could increase by more than ten times to 4 000 t/y by 2025, from the current figure of 330 t/y, as it planned to add 20 000 MW of nuclear generation capacity by that time, a company official said at this year's uranium conference.
The utility currently only uses uranium to produce some 1 800 MW of power from two reactors at its only nuclear power station, Koeberg, in the Western Cape, equating to about 5% to 7% of its total generation capacity.
Eskom would require between 3 000 t/y to 4 000 t/y of U3O8, or yellowcake, by 2025, nuclear fuel manager Hans Lensink told the conference, in Johannesburg.
It had plans to build five new nuclear plants by 2025, with the target to bring the first units on line by 2015/16, with the first new plant generating some 3 500 MW. These new power stations would bring nuclear's contribution to the firm's total energy mix to about one-quarter.
It had plans to build five new nuclear plants by 2025, with the target to bring the first units on line by 2015/16, with the first new plant generating some 3 500 MW. These new power stations would bring nuclear's contribution to the firm's total energy mix to about one-quarter.
Eskom had invited bids from US firm Westinghouse and French company Areva, which built Koeberg, to build the first new power station, and said in February that it would select the preferred bidder by the middle of next year.
These ambitions were part of its R1-trillion-plus new-build programme to effectively double its generation capacity by 2025, adding 40 000 MW to the national grid.
Lensink said that it took 10 kg of yellowcake to produce 1 kg of enriched nuclear fuel.
Lensink said that it took 10 kg of yellowcake to produce 1 kg of enriched nuclear fuel.
In 2003, the price of uranium made up 27% of Koeberg's generation costs, but now it accounted for 60%, after a sharp rise in the market price of the nuclear fuel.
It hit an all-time high of $138/lb in June 2007, but currently trades at about $75/lb on the spot market.
Mega Uranium Ltd. and Energentia Resources Inc. Sign Acquisition Agreement
It hit an all-time high of $138/lb in June 2007, but currently trades at about $75/lb on the spot market.
Mega Uranium Ltd. and Energentia Resources Inc. Sign Acquisition Agreement
Mega Uranium Ltd. (TSX:MGA) ("Mega") and Energentia Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE:ENR) ("Energentia") announce that they have signed an acquisition agreement in respect of the previously announced proposed acquisition of Energentia by Mega. Under the terms of the acquisition, Mega will acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Energentia ("Energentia Shares") in exchange for common shares of Mega ("Mega Shares"), on the basis of one (1) Mega Share for every ten (10) Energentia Shares outstanding (the "Exchange Ratio").
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About Mega Uranium
Mega Uranium Ltd. is a Toronto-based mineral resources company with a focus on uranium properties in Australia, Canada, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Mongolia and Cameroon. Further information on Mega can be found on the company's website at www.megauranium.com. Mega Uranium's Australian uranium properties, including without limitation Ben Lomond, Maureen and Lake Maitland, are subject to State policies which presently prohibit the mining of uranium.
Mega Uranium Ltd. is a Toronto-based mineral resources company with a focus on uranium properties in Australia, Canada, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Mongolia and Cameroon. Further information on Mega can be found on the company's website at www.megauranium.com. Mega Uranium's Australian uranium properties, including without limitation Ben Lomond, Maureen and Lake Maitland, are subject to State policies which presently prohibit the mining of uranium.
About Energentia Resources
Energentia is a uranium exploration and development company with interests in a number of uranium exploration properties located in Colombia.
Energentia is a uranium exploration and development company with interests in a number of uranium exploration properties located in Colombia.
Macusani Yelowcake Inc. (the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:YEL) President and CEO, Peter Hooper, stated: "We are delighted with the latest bottle tests carried out at the SGS Laboratories in Lima. These very high recovery rates confirm our previous testing and indicate that our concept of a heap leach uranium mine is real."
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About Macusani Yellowcake Inc.
Macusani Yellowcake controls over 49,000 hectares of mineral properties (Macusani, Munani, Lagunillas and Rio Blanco) in Puno in southeastern Peru. A 20,000 m diamond drilling program is underway on the Macusani Plateau along a 4 km long radiometric anomaly. Macusani believes that the properties located on the Macusani plateau are underlain by uraniferous volcanic rocks similar to those currently being drilled on nearby properties.
CASPER, Wyo. -- The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality has found environmental violations at the state's only operational in-situ uranium mine.
The agency has issued a notice of violation to Power Resources Inc., which operates the Smith-Highland Ranch in-situ leach uranium mine north of Douglas.
The six-page investigation report details several "long-standing" environmental concerns at the mine. Among them are delayed restoration of groundwater, "routine" spills, and a seriously inadequate bond to cover restoration.
"Given that PRI's operation has for many years been the major uranium producer in Wyoming, there is an expectation that the operation might serve as a model for excellence in (in-situ leach) mining. Unfortunately, this is not the case," DEQ land quality District 2 supervisor Mark Moxley wrote in a Nov. 21, 2007, report.
On March 10, DEQ issued a notice of violation to Power Resources Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cameco Corp., detailing alleged violations pursuant to two permits.
The agency has issued a notice of violation to Power Resources Inc., which operates the Smith-Highland Ranch in-situ leach uranium mine north of Douglas.
The six-page investigation report details several "long-standing" environmental concerns at the mine. Among them are delayed restoration of groundwater, "routine" spills, and a seriously inadequate bond to cover restoration.
"Given that PRI's operation has for many years been the major uranium producer in Wyoming, there is an expectation that the operation might serve as a model for excellence in (in-situ leach) mining. Unfortunately, this is not the case," DEQ land quality District 2 supervisor Mark Moxley wrote in a Nov. 21, 2007, report.
On March 10, DEQ issued a notice of violation to Power Resources Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cameco Corp., detailing alleged violations pursuant to two permits.
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"It's real hard to trumpet our values in this situation," Struthers said. "But I think that over the years it's pretty clear the company has been a solid performer. The environment is one of our top priorities."
The in-situ mining process involves a series of closely spaced wells that flush uranium material through water aquifers. The technique has been touted as a more environmentally friendly way of mining uranium than underground or surface strip mining.
Cameco's Smith-Highland Ranch mine is currently the only producing uranium mine in Wyoming. It produced 2 million pounds of uranium oxide in 2006 and was expected to produce at about the same in 2007.
The situation with the Smith-Highland Ranch in-situ uranium mine revealed that the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality's oversight of the operation failed, according to DEQ Director John Corra.
"Had we exercised the proper level of oversight, it wouldn't have gotten this far," Corra said.
Staffing and a dwindling knowledge base in the uranium industry were factors in DEQ's lack of proper oversight, he said.
International community should raise voice against use of Depleted Uranium: Justice Jain
AMRITSAR: The international community and all citizens of the world must raise a unified voice against the future use of depleted uranium and force those nations that have used depleted uranium munitions to recognize the immoral consequences of their actions and assume responsibility for medical care and thorough environmental remediation.
The in-situ mining process involves a series of closely spaced wells that flush uranium material through water aquifers. The technique has been touted as a more environmentally friendly way of mining uranium than underground or surface strip mining.
Cameco's Smith-Highland Ranch mine is currently the only producing uranium mine in Wyoming. It produced 2 million pounds of uranium oxide in 2006 and was expected to produce at about the same in 2007.
The situation with the Smith-Highland Ranch in-situ uranium mine revealed that the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality's oversight of the operation failed, according to DEQ Director John Corra.
"Had we exercised the proper level of oversight, it wouldn't have gotten this far," Corra said.
Staffing and a dwindling knowledge base in the uranium industry were factors in DEQ's lack of proper oversight, he said.
International community should raise voice against use of Depleted Uranium: Justice Jain
AMRITSAR: The international community and all citizens of the world must raise a unified voice against the future use of depleted uranium and force those nations that have used depleted uranium munitions to recognize the immoral consequences of their actions and assume responsibility for medical care and thorough environmental remediation.
This appeal was made by Justice Vijender Jain, Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court, Chandigarh while inaugurating the National Seminar on Depleted Uranium: Environmental Hazards.
This seminar was jointly organised by the Departments of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Human Genetics and Physics of the Guru Nanak Dev University here Saturday .
Prof. Dr. Jai Rup Singh, Vice-Chancellor welcomed the learned speakers and the delegates. Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, Ex-Chief of the Naval Staff presented the keynote address.
Continuing his address, Justice Jain said that Depleted Uranium (DU) is a deadly toy in the hands of the ruling bloodlines. A particle of DU ingested or inhaled cause one or more of the 90 plus seriously debilitating diseases.
He said the half life of DU is 4.5 billion years, and it could destroy living things and the environment; most importantly it could destroy perfectly healthy lives, he added
He said the growth of industry, nationally or globally, would be meaningless if we could not provide security to the human being. Security to human being includes freedom from hunger and fear.
He said the growth of industry, nationally or globally, would be meaningless if we could not provide security to the human being. Security to human being includes freedom from hunger and fear.
Never before in the history of this world, the individual has been threatened on account of ecological degradation than today.
Justice Jain said despite 9% ecological growth of the last four years, 25% of Indian population lives below the poverty line and 35 % still waiting to be literate.
Talking about India, he said the entire north-western region, including the Himalayas is affected. All perennial rivers flowing from the Himalayas into the Gangetic plains (the Ganga and Yamuna with hundreds of tributaries) and into Pakistan (the five rivers: Indus, Satluj, Jhelum, Ravi and Chenab), would contaminate the largest and oldest food growing area in the world.
Justice Jain said despite 9% ecological growth of the last four years, 25% of Indian population lives below the poverty line and 35 % still waiting to be literate.
Talking about India, he said the entire north-western region, including the Himalayas is affected. All perennial rivers flowing from the Himalayas into the Gangetic plains (the Ganga and Yamuna with hundreds of tributaries) and into Pakistan (the five rivers: Indus, Satluj, Jhelum, Ravi and Chenab), would contaminate the largest and oldest food growing area in the world.
He said this region as a high livestock population that supports India's and Pakistan's fuel, food, and farming needs.
The South Dakota Water Management Board on Thursday approved new rules for injection wells for uranium mining operations proposed for the Black Hills region, but state environmental officials said it will be at least two years before any mining begins.
First, the rules and a similar set before the state Board of Minerals and Environment must be reviewed by a legislative committee and checked by the Secretary of State, a process that could take two or three months.
Then, mining companies would apply for permits from both the water board and the environment board, a lengthy process with public-input opportunities.
"I would say that will take two years, at least," state Department of Environment and Natural Resources mining engineer Mike Cepak of Pierre said Thursday.
The water board heard public testimony on the injection-well rules during a public hearing Wednesday at the Radisson Hotel. The board approved the rules Thursday morning with only minor alterations in response to public comment.
But Sierra Club representative Shirley Frederick of Rapid City was encouraged by the board's willingness to listen to public concerns.
"I don't consider them adversaries on this. I think we're all in the same corner," Frederick said. "We want to protect our water resources and make sure any mining is done responsibly."
The board has a limited role in regulating the injection-well uranium mining, called in situ leach mining, because the process has been authorized by the state Legislature. In situ mining uses a well system to inject a solution into underground seams of uranium and recover the solution in other wells. The mine areas would be surrounded by monitoring wells to guard against pollutants escaping the production zone.
It's time to ban uranium mining
First, the rules and a similar set before the state Board of Minerals and Environment must be reviewed by a legislative committee and checked by the Secretary of State, a process that could take two or three months.
Then, mining companies would apply for permits from both the water board and the environment board, a lengthy process with public-input opportunities.
"I would say that will take two years, at least," state Department of Environment and Natural Resources mining engineer Mike Cepak of Pierre said Thursday.
The water board heard public testimony on the injection-well rules during a public hearing Wednesday at the Radisson Hotel. The board approved the rules Thursday morning with only minor alterations in response to public comment.
But Sierra Club representative Shirley Frederick of Rapid City was encouraged by the board's willingness to listen to public concerns.
"I don't consider them adversaries on this. I think we're all in the same corner," Frederick said. "We want to protect our water resources and make sure any mining is done responsibly."
The board has a limited role in regulating the injection-well uranium mining, called in situ leach mining, because the process has been authorized by the state Legislature. In situ mining uses a well system to inject a solution into underground seams of uranium and recover the solution in other wells. The mine areas would be surrounded by monitoring wells to guard against pollutants escaping the production zone.
It's time to ban uranium mining
The public has overwhelmingly spoken on uranium mining in New Brunswick, and it has a lot of indisputable evidence and legitimate concern on its side. It is time for the provincial government to heed their wishes and put an outright ban on uranium mining, just as Nova Scotia did 25 years ago.
Nova Scotia obviously knows, or accepts, something that New Brunswick's government doesn't and it is not willing to sacrifice its environment and quality of life for the sake of jobs and development, even though they need jobs as much as New Brunswick does.
We have been watching and listening to the uranium mining debate carefully and several things are clear. While it may be true that the current regulatory system makes it difficult to open a uranium mine, it is not impossible. There is a disconnect between government and industry statements that just because uranium exploration is going on, it doesn't mean the province will ever have a mine. What lies below the surface and the economics of extracting it will determine that.
That is true, but so is an obvious fact: mining companies would not be investing large sums in exploring and drilling test holes if they did not hope to start a mine. That is the end goal of all the activity -- including in municipal watersheds that could be ruined for many years should they be contaminated by a mine. It is disingenuous to suggest nobody should worry, it is just exploration.
As a resident of Fort Collins, I am concerned about the future state of our city and its surrounding areas. Powertech Uranium Corporation has basically obtained the right to put our city's health, environment and economy in jeopardy by mining uranium in Nunn. This is located just 11 miles northeast of Fort Collins.
When uranium is left alone underground, it poses no threat. However, the use of open-pit mining and in-situ leaching can cause us a great amount of danger. Uranium mining has a great risk of causing leaks and spills no matter how it is extracted. It will undeniably pollute our precious water and expose humans and animals to severe amounts of radiation. Even microscopic quantities of radium, a decay product of uranium found in mine tailing piles, have been proven to cause bone cancer, anemia and leukemia. Also, metal poisoning can potentially be ingested through our air, water and food. Even natural occurrences that take place in this area, such as tornadoes or heavy winds, have a chance of spreading radioactive material across the state of Colorado.
It is too much of a risk to take to let this foreign company make millions of dollars off of our land and leave the mess for us to live with. Northern Colorado is not a good place for Powertech to invade, and it is important that we keep them from succeeding.
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