Uranium One, operated by Russia's Rosatom nuclear energy corporation, is studying the possibility of using an ecological and economically effective method of uranium extraction, called solution mining, at the southern Tanzanian Mkuju River mine, the company's press service said Thursday.
"Currently, the study is at the field trials stage, which is expected to be completed in the second quarter of this year. We will be able to judge the potential for using the [solution mining] method after receiving the results," the press service said.
According to the service, the method is a part of Uranium One's efforts to increase efficiency amid the low global prices for natural uranium.
Should solution mining be proven to be commercially effective, the company may create a unique mine, where a combination of traditional and solution mining will be used.
earlier report
Russia's Rosatom to Train South African Nuclear Energy Industry Staff
Russia's nuclear agency Rosatom will help train personnel to develop South Africa's nuclear power industry on the basis of its educational programs, according to the agency's statement on Wednesday.
"A continuous improvement of personnel will allow South Africa to achieve sustainable development and competitiveness in the world market of nuclear technologies," the statement reads.
The initiative is part of Rosatom's memorandum, signed in July 2015 with the South African authorities, on cooperation in the field of professional development and short-term training programs.
According to the nuclear agency, these educational programs will allow South Africa to implement joint projects in the sphere of nuclear energy with African, as well as with other countries.
South Africa currently has two nuclear reactors generating 5 percent of its electricity. The government wants the nuclear energy industry to provide some 25 percent of the country's electricity needs by 2030.
