I. INTRODUCTION
Increasing interest in nuclear power worldwide has lead to rising uranium demand, and in turn, the price of uranium concentrates. The consequent uranium industry revival has prompted renewed uranium exploration and mining activities in several countries while the short fall of uranium supply has been complemented by secondary supply. The uranium resource base and yellowcake production are expect to continue their upward trend from both existing and new mines. New sources of primary uranium will focus on exploration and exploitation of lower grade ore bodies, and so resource projects will seek low energy mining methods, as well as lower intensity ore treatment routes, to minimize yellowcake recovery costs from these deposits.
Mature expertise and modern technologies will be needed to ensure an increasing supply of uranium raw materials from low grade resources. The direct treatment of mined and broken uranium ores by heap, dump and in-place leaching is expected to play an increasing role for uranium production. Further, sound environmental management, community liaison, effective project delivery, efficient operation, closure strategies, regulatory compliance, personnel training and education will be required to minimize the impact and cost of uranium mining and production, and to secure public acceptance of nuclear energy.
The long term stewardship of nuclear power will include an adequate planning and development of uranium resources that can be delivered to the market at competitive prices. Environmental controls and mining techniques to better integrate exploitation of uranium deposits with ore treatment flowsheets must be planned as socially acceptable operations, and closure plans must meet the requirements of increasingly stringent regulatory requirements and community expectations.
Objectives
The purpose of the Technical Meeting on Low Grade Uranium Ore is to present, discuss and disseminate practical knowhow and innovative knowledge for low intensity uranium mining and treatment including aspects of Life Cycle Management, Orebody Characterization, Feasibility Study and Project Evaluation, Infrastructure Requirements, Licensing, Mine and Plant Design, and Project Delivery, Operation and Closure.
The presentations and discussions at the Technical Meeting will:
• Lead to a better understanding of low grade uranium deposits and opportunities;
• Provide information on ore characterization concepts, knowledge and technologies that will potentially assist mining and treatment of low grade uranium resources;
• Describe novel and evolving technologies for ore extraction, breakage, placement, leaching and disposal for more efficiently and economically exploitation of low grade uranium ore;
• Consider environmental and social issues of uranium ore mining, stacking, and leaching including closure, remediation and decommissioning of production facilities.
Target audience
The Technical Meeting is intended to bring together practitioners, technologists, geologists and miners, plant designers and engineers, operators and regulators to exchange information and discuss project development approaches and current issues.
II. LIST OF TOPICS
In addition to a range of presentations by invited speakers , contributions, as either audio-visual papers and posters, are invited on the following topics;
• Social licensing in the uranium mining and yellowcake production;
• Low grade uranium deposit characterization;
• Uranium ore mining, breakage and placement;
• Water requirements including supply, quality and effluent disposal
• Uranium ore leaching in dumps, heap or stopes;
• Leached ore, (ripios) handling and tailings disposal
• Environmental and regulatory planning for closure;
• Human resources technical training and education;.
III. IAEA SECRETARIAT
Scientific Secretary:
Mr Peter BARTSCH
Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology
Telephone: (+43 1) 2600 22470
Telefax: (+43 1) 2600 7
Email; P.Bartsch@iaea.org
Information can be submitted to email address: K.ajvazi@iaea.org; P.Bartsch@iaea.org
Meeting Coordinator:
Ms Helena Kuitunen
Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology
Telephone: (+43 1) 2600 22756
Telefax: (+43 1) 2600 7
Email: H.Kuitunen@iaea.org
IV. PARTICIPATION
Each person wishing to participate in the meeting is requested to complete the Participation Form A (attached), with and indication of the intention to present a paper and to send to the IAEA through the competent official authority by 1 March 2010.
V. VENUE
The meeting will be held at Agency Headquarters in the Vienna International Centre (VIC), M5 Wagramerstrasse 5, 1400 Vienna, Austria. Participants are advised to arrive one hour prior to the convening time of the meeting to allow for timely registration. Please note that you must present an official photo identification document in order to be admitted to the VIC premises.
The following web site (http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/Meetings/Guide/vic.shtml) can be accessed for more detailed information on Vienna and the VIC: Meetings Guide.
VI. VISA ARRANGEMENTS
Participants are also advised that they may require a valid passport and Schengen visa for entry into Austria. Accordingly, it would be advisable to begin the immediate preparation of travel arrangements and necessary authorizations. Please advise the Secretariat as soon as possible if a formal invitation letter is needed in order to facilitate the visa request. We recommend that you apply for visa in a timely manner, if necessary. (The 15 Schengen countries are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. All these countries except Norway and Iceland are European Union members. If you need more information please check: http://www.eurovisa.info/SchengenCountries.htm).
VII. EXPENDITURES
In accordance with the established rules, Governments, national authorities, private companies or individual sources are expected to bear the travel and other costs of designated participants in the meeting. Limited funds are, however, available to help cover the cost of participants from Member States eligible to receive technical assistance under the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme. Such assistance can be offered, upon specific request, to one participant per country provided that, in the IAEA’s view, this participant will make an important contribution to the meeting. The application for financial support should be made at the time of the designation of the participant.
The Secretariat wishes to state that compensation is not payable by the IAEA for any damage to or loss of the experts’ personal property. However, for the period of their engagement with the IAEA, including travel between their residence and the duty station, the designated experts will be covered under the IAEA’s insurance policy for permanent total disablement or death resulting from service-incurred accidents or illness up to a maximum of €100 000, for permanent partial disablement resulting from service-incurred accidents or illness up to a maximum of €100 000 and for medical expenses up to a maximum of €20 000 plus €10 000 for supplementary travel and accommodation expenses in case of illness or injury resulting from service-incurred accidents or illness, in accordance with the terms of the IAEA’s relevant insurance policy. This insurance coverage only covers accidents and illnesses insofar as they clearly result from attendance at an IAEA meeting. The IAEA recommends that the expert also make arrangements for private insurance coverage on an individual basis.
VIII. WORKING LANGUAGE
The working language of the meeting will be English. All communications, abstracts, and papers must be sent in English.