Niger uranium workers threaten to expand strike

Niger is the top supplier of uranium to France's nuclear power manufacturing. Workers construct Areva's new Imouraren mine began a week-long strike on Wednesday due to a divergence with management over days off."If the strike continues at Imouraren, we will include to mobilise all workers of the mining companies. We'll stop working until there is a solution for the Imouraren workers," said Inoua Neino, Secretary Common of the Syntramines union.

Niger produces concerning 4,000 tonnes of uranium per year from mines operated by Areva. China National Nuclear Corporation also has a uranium mining project in the country with production of 700 tonnes per year.

Areva's Imouraren mine is expected to additional than double current production when it comes online in 2014 with predictable output of 5,000 tonnes per year.An Areva spokesman in Niger declined comment, but a basis at the company said the workers were aware of the project's vacation policy previous to they were hired.

GoviEx Uranium and Toshiba Complete US$40 Million Strategic Financing and Sign Off-Take Agreement

GoviEx Uranium Inc.'s Executive Chairman Mr. Govind Friedland announced today that the company has closed a US$40 million tactical financing and executed an off-take agreement with Japanese industrial and nuclear giant Toshiba Corporation to advance the growth of GoviEx's Madaouela Project, located in the heart of Niger's uranium-producing district.

"We are pleased to welcome a partner with Toshiba's stature as a global enterprise that has built a reputation as one of the world's major suppliers of nuclear power reactors," said Mr. Friedland. "Toshiba's investment is an conversant gesture of confidence, not just in our management team and our project, but also in the Republic of Niger and its long history as a stable partner in increasing and supporting uninterrupted uranium exports from one of the world's most prolific uranium mining districts."

Mr. Kiyoshi Okamura, Corporate Vice-President of Toshiba, said, "Toshiba has long been looking for an additional project that makes sense in conditions of size and production timeline. GoviEx stood out from others and it is important for Toshiba to make an upstream investment to secure a long-term, stable supply for our clients worldwide." The off-take agreement provides for a 14-year right and compulsion to purchase up to 600,000 pounds of uranium per year, roughly equivalent to the fuel necessary to operate one 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plant.

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Uranium Mining Project Under Government Inspection Putting Safeguards in Place

THE emergence and increase of exploration for latest minerals and energy resources in Tanzania during the last decade is now showing signs of possible for such development projects being realized.These projects include oil and gas extraction and mining of expensive metals such as nickel, copper, coal and uranium. However, as we believe this opportunity to be so beneficial to the growth of our economy, these projects as well pose environmental challenges to the National Environmental Management Council (NEMC) which is the national environmental watchdog.

Indeed the Council does work in collaboration and secure consultation with the Lead Sectors and key stakeholders. According to a report issued by NEMC this week, environmentalists have witnessed a steady enlarge of projects registered at its database, applying for environmental collision assessment certificates.

The NEMC Director General, Eng B. Baya said just that from 2005 to date, the Council has registered extra than 1,600 projects out of which 50 are oil and gas projects (located in Tanga, Pwani, Mtwara and Lindi regions), 3 nickel mining projects (in Kagera, Mtwara and Katavi regions), 7 copper mining projects (in Kilimanjaro, Katavi, Morogoro and Iringa regions), 4 coal projects (in Mbeya, Ruvuma and Njombe regions) and 2 uranium mining projects (in Ruvuma and Singida regions).

Nuclear Industry Sues to Reverse Grand Canyon Uranium Land Withdrawal

The Nuclear Energy Institute and the National Mining Association Monday filed a federal lawsuit looking for to reverse the Obama administration's withdrawal of one million acres of public land in Arizona from uranium mining for 20 years.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced the persistence of the government's moratorium on new hardrock uranium mining claims on land nearby the Grand Canyon on January 9. The public land at issue is not within the Grand Canyon National Park or the buffer zone caring the national park.

Filed in U.S. District Court in Arizona, the industry claim argues that Salazar "lacks legal authority to make withdrawals of public lands exceeding 5,000 acres." The lawsuit contends that the land withdrawal is an "arbitrary agency action" below the Administrative Procedure Act, and that it fails to fulfill with the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to take the "hard look" at the withdrawal's consequences that the U.S. Supreme Court necessary in a unanimous 1989 decision.

No uranium protesters rally in Sydney

Demonstrators have rallied outside NSW Parliament House to voice their opposition to state government plans to let a uranium industry.Images of destruction from Japan's tsunami and 'No-nuclear' signs were held outside the gates as about 50 people took to Macquarie Street through the lunch hour, chanting: 'Shame Barry Shame'.

NSW Deputy Opposition Leader Linda Burney told the crowd Premier Barry O'Farrell couldn't be trusted, after he exposed plans to reverse a 25-year ban on uranium exploration in the state. 'Do not trust Barry O'Farrell,' she said. 'Just before the election he said that he was not involved in nuclear exploration and mining in NSW. 'He has now known the go-ahead for exploration.'

Earlier, Ms Burney told AAP that NSW Labor remained opposed to uranium mining and exploration, in spite of the federal Labor conference in December voting to undo its longstanding three-mine policy preventive the number of uranium mines in the country. Standing beside her, Greens upper house MP Jeremy Buckingham told demonstrators his party stood with NSW Labor in differing uranium mining.

Uranium in Broken Hill?

While many in the area are excited by the view of a discovery, Broken Hill based geologist Wolfgang Leyh says known deposits approximately Broken Hill are quite small.After working in the region for 40 years, Mr Leyh has questions concerning the long term economic viability of uranium mining in the far west.

"From detailed mapping that's been done here, by the state geological survey, they've done... the majority of these small showings of uranium have previously been identified, and they're all too small to be economic."So statistically the odds are not very good quality this side of the border, at least in the outcropping areas."

Despite that, Mr Leyh says there is the possible for hidden deposits which would not appear on a geological survey and can be discovered upon further exploration.A part of the reason behind the excitement is significant uranium near the border in South Australia, but Mr Leyh says there are no guarantees that deposits of a like scale will be found in NSW.

Uranium puts Southside on endangered list

Southside landed on the Southern Environmental Law Center’s fourth annual Top 10 Endangered Places in the Southeast list since of proposed uranium mining and pressure to lift Virginia’s uranium moratorium.

Many of the areas on SELC’s top 10 list are endangered by pressure to undercut environmental protections and to lower the hurdles for potentially critical projects, according to a news release.

Anti-environmental forces are working in Congress, state legislatures and government agencies under the guise of promoting financial growth, said Marie Hawthorne, SELC’s director of development, in a statement. “The truth is, environmental defense had nothing to do with the financial crisis or today’s weak economy,” Hawthorne added. “Doing away with efficient laws and enforcement will accomplish nothing except sacrifice the natural treasures like those on our Top 10 list and other possessions that make the South such a great place live, work, and raise our families. We owe it to ourselves — and to prospect generations — to make sure this doesn’t happen.”

Uranium Ban at U.S. Grand Canyon Pits Tourism Against Mining

An Obama administration ban on new uranium mining near the Grand Canyon, the second most-visited U.S. national park, has touched off a argue over jobs from mining and tourism in a state that relies on both industries.The ban “comes at the cost of hundreds of high-paying jobs and approximately $10 billion worth of bustle for the Arizona economy,” Arizona Governor Janice K. Brewer, a Republican, said in a statement.

U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, who sign the 20-year ban yesterday at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, said it was part of an effort to maintain the $3.5 billion spent by guests to the national park each year.

“Tourism, leisure are extremely much a part of job creation of the United States,” Salazar said. “The jobs associated to the Grand Canyon are not jobs that can be export anywhere, those are truly American jobs.”The ban will avoid new uranium and other hard-rock mining on about 1 million acres near the Grand Canyon National Park, which was visited by 4.5 million people in 2010, second to the Great Smoky Mountains. Previously accepted mining and new projects on claims and sites with accessible rights will be allowed, potentially leading to development of as many as 11 uranium mines, according to a declaration from the Interior Department.

Pittsylvania County farmer takes uranium mining debate to heart

Uranium mining is likely to be the hot button concern when Virginia lawmakers begin work in a couple of weeks up in Richmond.A suggestion to lift a statewide ban on the mining of the radioactive mineral is polarizing and individually impactful.

Consider the case of a 200-year-old farm near a planned uranium mine site in Pittsylvania County.The 104 acre farm has be in farmer Byron Motley's family for seven generations."It was a tobacco farm for many years and then when they bought the tobacco allotment out I turned it into a hay farm and I'm just raising hay," Motley said.

But keeping his possessions up to par isn't what's waking him up in the middle of the night, it's worrying whether he'll get to keep it. Assorted and his family live about two miles from the proposed uranium mine site at Coles Hill in Pittsylvania County.Part of his property falls under, what current studies have called, a contamination or condemned zone.

2011 Uranium Market Trends

In 2011, the uranium mining industry experienced a number of important events which had an impact on uranium prices and equity market volatility.

Germany, Italy and Switzerland have made policy decisions concerning nuclear energy which are not positive for the industry; however, these three countries joint represent a relatively small proportion of global demand for uranium totaling just about 5.8 percent of annual requirements. Following up with key points on the stipulate and supply arguments Mr. Khaliqi underscored “Germany’s stance to decommission all nuclear plants has also prompted other European nations to evaluation their policies. On the supply side, the biggest news story or catalyst in my view which will have substance impact on medium to long term prices is BHP’s (NYSE:BHP) planned expansion of Olympic dam. The expansion at Olympic Dam will considerably lift the mine’s annual production of uranium from 4ktpa to 19ktpa, adding major amounts of uranium to global supply.

Another key increase this year was the feasibility study of the Husab uranium project, a $1.7 billion uranium undertaking on the western coast of Namibia. Earlier in this month, Extract Resources Limited (ASX:EXT) was offered $2.2 billion by China Guangdong Nuclear Power Corp (CGNPC) designed for its Husab uranium project. This is of importance as the Husab project is the largest in-situ, and maximum grade, granite-hosted uranium deposit in Namibia. It is as well the fifth-largest uranium-only deposit in the world.

The Australian uranium exploration and mining companies may have seen enhanced regulatory conditions, as Australian prime minister, Julia Gillard, appeared intent to vary the current policy which did not allow uranium sales to India. India’s new rules to provide liability limitations for uranium producers and equipment suppliers in the case of a grave accident at Indian nuclear power plants saw a positive ending for all uranium producers.Earlier this month, the Nunatsiavut Assembly in Eastern Canada, lifted a suspension on uranium mining on Inuit land in Labrador after three years.

Much-awaiting Va. uranium mining report released

A highly anticipated National Academy of Sciences report on uranium mining finished Monday that Virginia must overcome "steep hurdles" before it can guarantee that a rich deposit of the radioactive ore can be safely extracted and processed.

The 290-page report is probable to guide the 2012 General Assembly if it considers ending a 30-year ban on uranium mining. The report does not recommend whether it must be lifted, but makes clear the state must address a number of environmental and open safety issues before mining can occur.

The report points to many of the concern raised by uranium mining opponents, who have argue the East Coast's wet, hurricane-prone climate is a perilous environment for mining and milling, and for separating the radioactive ore from rock. Full-scale uranium mining has never occur on the East Coast, apart from as a byproduct of other mining.

Uranium Mining Debate in Virginia Takes a Step

The National Academy of Sciences deliver a long-awaited report on uranium mining to the Virginia legislature on Monday, warning that the state faced “steep hurdles” if it is to securely mine and process the nuclear reactor fuel.

The report’s release marks the start of what is certain to be emotional debate over whether to lift a nearly three-decade moratorium and permit landowners in southern Virginia to remove ore from a vast underground deposit, as they first sought to do in the 1980s.

The legislature commissioned the $1.4 million study to provide a thorough and impartial backdrop for debate over whether to lift the moratorium. The General Assembly asked the panel to study practice in the industry, health and security issues, and narrow considerations for the state.

Inuit open to uranium mining

A self-governing Inuit territory in northern Canada has lifted a moratorium on uranium mining, opening the door to a likely mining boom, but analyst say low uranium prices could hamper mine development in the remote region.The Nunatsiavut government, a regional assembly in place of the Inuit people of Labrador on Canada's North Atlantic coast, voted to lift the three-year moratorium on uranium mining and milling on Inuit lands.

The region hopes to be a focus for investment and jobs to the small communities around the uranium-rich Central Mineral Belt in the territory of Newfoundland and Labrador.But analysts say the companies owning looking at projects in the region will face numerous challenges, including a lack of infrastructure and difficulty financing large and exclusive uranium projects.

Australian miner Paladin Energy, which owns the Michelin project in the district said Thursday it tactics to restart exploration in mid-2012, with drilling seen in the third quarter.The Michelin project has a deliberate and indicated resource of 83.8 million pounds and cover six part deposits.

India exploring for uranium mining assets abroad

India was exploring chance to own uranium mining assets overseas and also looking forward to have enduring contract for the supply of uranium to run its nuclear plants, a senior official said today.

"After the opening of the International Civil Nuclear Cooperation, chance to own assets as well as opportunity to enter long-term contract for supply of uranium mines has opened up.It is our policy to look for those chance and we are exploring such opportunities," Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Director R K Sinha told reporters on the sidelines of the 22nd National Annual Conference of Indian Nuclear Society (INS) here.

Reacting to a query, he said "We are operating in safe protected reactors. The nuclear plants in Rajasthan are operation on fuel material which has been imported. Previously we have the advantage of getting fuel supply including for Tarapur nuclear power plant."

India eyes Australia uranium assets: report

Energy hungry India will consider acquire Australian uranium mining assets if a contentious ban on exports to the nuclear power is lifted, according to a report.Australia has the world's major reserves of uranium and senior New Delhi officials said the country could move to buy up assets if a ban on sales is detached as favoured by Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

"Once Australia comes into the fold all property will be reviewed," said A.K. Sarangi, deputy general manager of tactical planning at the Uranium Corporation of India, the government agency dependable for mining and purchases."Australian deposits will be a aim along with assets in other countries," he added to The Australian newspaper.

"If we decide we need to reach properties abroad and the Australian government agrees then Australian assets are also considerations."Federation of Indian Mineral Industries chief R.K. Sharma agreed.“I think it would be extremely desirable to invest in Australian uranium assets since Australia is a very investor-friendly country," he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Uranium Price Could Reach $100 per pound by 2013

Uranium investing interest could enlarge extensively according to the bullish outlook of Mark Lackey, Investment Strategist with Pope &amp Company with his forecasts for enlargement in the uranium mining industry,“If you look at the accord right now a lot of people are saying $60 to $65 [per pound of uranium] for the next number of years spot and maybe $70 long term.

Long term is [currently] trading at $64 [per pound of uranium] that is not mostly bullish the reason that we have a different view is twofold number one we don’t think a few of the supply will come on when people say it will, because if you look at mining in general there are usually delays and we are seeing a lot of water issues in countries these days and economic nationalism and the second thing is that the Russians will stop export particularly enriched uranium in 2013 and where is that shortfall going to be made up?

Some people are saying Kazakhstan and Namibia, I don’t think we’ll get the development in those countries that a lot of people recommend they will we think the prices will head up closer to $70 [per pound of uranium] next year and then in 2013 we can get back closer to $100.”

More uranium mining near Canyon a bad idea

A temporary moratorium has halted new uranium mining claims near the Grand Canyon at the moment Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is on the verge of extend the ban, which covers 1 million acres of federal land, for 20 years but leading member of our congressional delegation are trying to stop him.

The stakes are sky-high: our No 1 tourist magnetism the health of wildlife and the drinking water for more than 26 million people yet Sens Jon Kyl and John McCain and Reps Jeff Flake and Trent Franks have introduced legislation to take the brakes off mining claim it would particularly forbid any moratorium.

What are the benefits that outweigh the risks? They call the moratorium a "job killer" But lifting it would create relatively few jobs, several of them in Utah at peak production, total employment in the five-county region, as well as Coconino and Mohave, would increase by less than 1 percent.

Lawmakers push to lift northern Arizona uranium-mining ban

Arizona and Utah lawmakers touted a Senate bill Wednesday that would open additional than 1 million acres in the northern part of Arizona to new uranium mining the Northern Arizona Mining Continuity Act would avoid the Department of the Interior from banning new uranium mines on the land, saying mining can bring hundreds of millions of dollars per year into local economies with minimal environmental risk.

The bill is a response to a provisional ban on new mines in the so-called Arizona Strip federal lands next to Grand Canyon National Park a ban that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has said he would like to extend for 20 years the department is at present studying the possibility John McCain, R-Ariz., said the ban sets a precedent that the Interior Department can modify land-use agreements without congressional consent he said the Interior Department breached an agreement it complete with Congress through the Arizona Wilderness Act of 1984, which specifies uses of the Arizona Strip.

“I don’t know if any of my colleagues were consult before this decision was made, but I sure as hell wasn’t,” said McCain, the major sponsor of the bill he was joined Wednesday by Republican lawmakers from the two states the Republicans’ measure is the conflicting of a House bill introduced this spring by Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Tucson his bill, the Grand Canyon Watersheds Protection Act, would block additional uranium mining operations in the Arizona Strip.

Uranium mining on Arizona Strip threatened by Federal Government

Headed by the Arizona-Utah Local Economic Coalition, the thought was held at the Washington County Administration Building on Sept. 7. Co-chaired by Washington County Commissioner Alan Gardner and Mohave County Commissioner Buster Johnson of Arizona, the Coalition heard testimony for and alongside a proposal of Ken Salazar, the Secretary of the Interior, Salazar plans to close one million acres of the Arizona Strip to numerous uses for the next 20 years.

Uranium mining is seen as the major target of Salazar’s proposal, as the bulk of current mining movement takes place in the one million acre zone if passed, future mining claims will be out of the question, while present ones will develop into subject to review.

The problems lies in concerns over potential infectivity cause to water by uranium mining it is also supposed that the mining will guide to the contamination of the Colorado River and adversely authority the scenery of the Grand Canyon in 2009; the Department of the Interior organized an Environmental Impact.

EPA announces deal for uranium contamination probe

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is overseeing an attempt to determine the extent of contamination at a former uranium mining site on the Navajo Nation so as to mark a high priority for assessment.

The EPA announced Monday that it has reached a agreement with Chevron USA Inc. to survey the 31-acre Mariano Lake Mine site near Gallup, N.M., and nearby homes and water wells. Chevron is to report its findings from radiological review and soil samples to the EPA early next year and is on the hook for EPA's oversight costs.

The Mariano Lake Mine is single of a handful of sites that the EPA and its Navajo Nation counterpart have under attack for investigation or cleanup so far. They've been assessing hundreds of abandoned uranium mines to address what has develop into a legacy of death and disease diagonally the reservation.