Finnish nickel mining company Talvivaara is to investigate the recovery of uranium as a separate product from its ore body
Talvivaara is to investigate the recovery of uranium as a separate product from its ore body in a project costing approximately EUR 30 million.
Talvivaara Mining Company Plc is planning to initiate the recovery and exploitation of uranium, obtained as a by-product of other metals, in the form of a uranium intermediate, yellow cake.
Natural uranium is a commonly occurring element which is also present in low concentrations in the Talvivaara ore body.
The Company plans to recover the uranium from its main leaching process by using a safe and technically simple solvent extraction process which is widely applied to metals recovery. This process modification will not alter discharge levels or other environmental impacts of the operations,
The bedrock and nickel ore in the Talvivaara area naturally contain uranium although surveys conducted by the Geological Survey of Finland have not revealed any abnormal radiation levels.
Annual production costs are estimated at approximately EUR 2 million and the annual production volume is estimated at approximately 350 tonnes. The extraction plant is expected to employ around 20 people directly and some 50 people indirectly.
The uranium oxide generated in the solvent extraction process will be packaged in airtight steel containers and transported for further processing, subject to appropriate supervision.
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