3 Jan (NucNet): China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has started trial operations at the Azelik uranium mine in Niger.
The Beijing-based company produced the first barrel of uranium at the mine in the West African nation on 30 December 2010, it said in a statement on its website.
The mine, 37.2 percent owned by China Uranium Corporation, an overseas unit of CNNC, will be the first overseas uranium deposit developed by China once it goes into full operation later this year.
In a separate statement CNNC said the Azelik mine comprises three uranium deposits and has an estimated mine life of 17 years. It is estimated that the mine contains resources of around 11,227 tonnes of uranium.
China has 13 nuclear reactor units in commercial operation and 26 under construction. By 2020, it could have between 50,000 megawatts and 80,000 MW of nuclear capacity – or about 70 to 90 reactor units. This means China would consume the equivalent of between 9,000 to 14,000 metric tonnes of natural uranium by 2020, although some of this might be covered by MOX (mixed oxide) fuel and recycled uranium.
In a report on the uranium industry published last year the OECD’s Nuclear Energy Agency said uranium resources, production and demand are all on the rise and total identified resources are sufficient for more than 100 years of supply.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
Cameco Signs Long-Term Uranium Agreement With China (News in Brief No. 11, 24 November 2010)
New ‘Red Book’ Assures Long-Term Availability Of Uranium Resources (News in Brief No. 128, 21 July 2010)
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