Uranium One examines applicability of ISL technology at Mkuju River Project in Tanzania
OREANDA-NEWS. Uranium One, an international mining division of Rosatom State Corporation, carries out research to determine applicability of in-situ leaching (ISL) method in Nyota uranium deposit development, the key asset of the Mkuju River Project, Tanzania. Presently, our research work is at the field trial stage and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of the current year. The results obtained will be used to establish viability of the ISL mining method.
 
Mkuju River Project in Tanzania is among the world's most promising uranium projects. Uranium One Inc. acts as the project operator. The project is currently maintained in the active status as research work and preparatory operations are under way.
 
"Taking into account the world’s low prices for natural uranium, our company has been implementing a number of measures to increase commercial efficiency of all mining operations, including our Mkuju River Project in Tanzania," – Vasily Konstantinov, the President of JSC “U1 Group” noted. – "If we establish that it is feasible to arrange a commercially viable uranium production using ISL technology, our company will be able to make a decision to mine the deposit by combining two production methods, i.e. conventional mining and ISL. This would be one-of-a-kind experiment as ISL production has never been previously combined with other methods at a single deposit elsewhere in the world."
 
Uranium One has years of successful experience in producing uranium by ISL method at joint ventures with JSC NAC Kazatomprom in Kazakhstan and in Willow Creek mine in the USA. ISL method enables Uranium One to maintain leadership in the lowest production cost per lbs of uranium among the most prominent uranium-producing companies in the world.
 
Unlike conventional mining method, which involves removing mineralised rock (ore) from the ground, breaking it up and treating it to remove the minerals being sought, in situ leaching (ISL) involves leaving the ore where it is in the ground, and recovering the minerals from it by dissolving them and pumping the pregnant solution to the surface where the minerals can be recovered. Consequently there is little surface disturbance and no tailings or waste rock generated. ISL is much more cost-effective and environmentally preferable as compared to conventional open-pit mining.
 
The international mining division Uranium One consolidates foreign uranium-producing assets of Rosatom State Corporation. The Division's holding company is JSC “U1 Group”. The key asset is Uranium One Inc., whose mines produce natural uranium at deposits in Kazakhstan and the USA. Uranium One Division holds the fourth place globally in terms of uranium production and shows the best figures for production costs among global Top-5 producers of natural uranium.