People from Zverinogolovskoye village visited JSC Dalur site where they became familiar with uranium production process and the up-to-date production technologies

The Company’s specialists gave a tour around the site for the locals of Zverinogolovskoye, answered their questions and demonstrated the reliability and safety of the entire production chain at an operating production site.

Currently, JSC Dalur develops two fields in Kurgan region - Dalmatovskoye field in the same district and Khokhlovskoye field in Shumikhinskiy district. Dobrovolskoye field development in Zverinogolovskiy district may be started in the future.

“We don’t want the locals to have any prejudice against us because of any environmental impact or radioactivity of the metal, as they think. Everyone interested may see our operations, ask questions and get a competent and honest answer. Let alone, in a period from 2017 to 2026 about 350 new jobs will be created at Khokhlovskoye field, where we’ll invite the locals of Zverinogolovskoye as well. I hope many of those present here today will see their future jobs,” Nikolay Poponin, JSC Dalur Director remarked.

People from Zverinogolovskoye community visited an in-situ leaching landfill, local sorption plant and, of course, main production building of the enterprise. The specialists from JSC Dalur explained in details the uranium production process and told about new jobs required for the enterprise. “It shall be noted that our company is authorized for training and carrier guidance of leaching plant operators, chemists, mechanical fitters, operators of mechanized and automated warehouses, well servicing operators. The training for these jobs takes three months at JSC Dalur,” Leonid Ivanchikov, Head of HR department reported.

Along with management of JSC Dalur, Mikhail Noskov, professor of Seversk National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, took part in the discussion. He focused on geological and hydrogeological aspects of uranium mining: “Dobrovolnoye field itself, like Dalmatovskoye and Khokhlovskoye fields, is fully isolated from the water-bearing strata. The field is confined by rocks from bottom and sides, and capped with water-resistant clays on the top. Therefore both, the ground waters and productive fluid, cannot go beyond the ore-bearing horizon.” The specialists described in details the components of the productive solution (leaching fluid) and explained that this solution is not a concentrated sulfuric acid, but a mix of chelating and oxidizing agents (hydrogen peroxide or oxygen). “Sulfuric acid content in this solution is only 0.5-0.6% or 5-6 g/l, thus no underground voids are formed, as for example, with oil production,” Nikolay Lutsenko, Head of production at JSC Dalur emphasized.

Apart from the production site, the locals from Zverinogolovskoye also visited social infrastructure facilities built by the uranium production enterprise or with its financial participation. These facilities include a new school opened in Uksyanskiy on September 1 this year, as well as dwellings for the company’s employees. “We strive for continuous improvement of the life quality in our region, where the families of our employees live. We plan a number of social projects in Zverinogolovskiy district,” Leonid Ivanchikov reported. 

Alexander Boichenko, an education coordinator in Zverinogolovskoye district shared his opinion on the tour along with other visitors: “We liked this meeting, indeed. We had a lot of questions - and we received clear and detailed answers. I was afraid of the operations related to this field development, but one doesn’t feel any threats at the production site, everything is planned and protected. And no radiation at all. As for me personally, the employees of such a huge strategic industrial enterprise seemed to me very polite and friendly, because, indeed, they are ordinary people just like us. So, I hope all plans of Dalur will be executed and we’ll have a new production site and jobs.”