Uranium is a naturally occurring element found within the Earths crust. It is an important resource for nuclear power, providing fuel for energy production as well as many other ancillary services. Uranium is not found in large concentrations, however it can be extracted from ore bodies, usually with specialized mining methods. The majority of uranium ore currently mined comes from Australia, Canada, and Kazakhstan.
Uranium ore extraction is typically done through a process called open cut mining. This involves the removal of overburden (soil, vegetation and other material covering the ore body) to expose the ore, which is then extracted and processed. The ore is separated from the overburden and transported to a uranium processing plant where it is crushed into a powder and put through a series of chemical leaching processes to separate out the uranium. The majority of uranium ore that is mined is stored in piles in the form of ‘ore piles’ or ‘tailings’.
Once the uranium ore is extracted, it must be processed and enriched to create the fuel required to produce nuclear energy. Areva, Westinghouse and Cameco are the top three uranium producers, controlling around 40 percent of global production. These companies use large-scale enrichment processes to enrich the uranium ore so that it meets the power plant’s requirements.
Uranium mining has some environmental impacts associated with it. These include water and air pollution, radiation contamination, land degradation, and other safety and health issues. These impacts need to be managed responsibly, and these companies have taken a number of steps to reduce these concerns.
These include the use of best practises; managing and supervising operations; improving water and air quality; controlling and monitoring radiation contamination; maintaining safe working conditions; restoring land back to its pre-mining state; and being mindful of the local wildlife populations and native cultural practices.
Uranium from mines is produced in two forms: U3O8 and UF6. Uranium trioxide, known as U3O8, is the form of uranium ore used by the reactor industry to produce electricity and is enriched in various levels for use in nuclear power plants. It is extracted from ore, processed and shipped to customers for use in reactors. UF6, uranium hexafluoride, is the form of uranium that nuclear fuel manufacturers use to enrich its fissile isotopes for use in electricity production.
Uranium mining has been going on around the world for centuries and is an important part of the worlds energy supply. It is a reliable, safe, and rewarding way of producing electricity, and by taking the necessary safety and environmental precautions, it can be an environmentally sound form of energy production.
