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17 June 2009
ARMZ Uranium Holding Co. Commissions New Sulfuric Acid Plant to Supply Priargunsky
Moscow — The largest sulfuric acid plant in Eastern Russia with an annual capacity of 180 000 tons was officially commissioned in Krasnokamensk, Trans-Baikal Territory, today. Among those present were representatives of Rosatom (The State Corporation for Atomic Energy) and ARMZ Uranium Holding Co. (ARMZ). The plant will ensure a continuous supply of sulfuric acid to the hydrometallurgical plant at Priargunsky (Priargunsky Industrial Mining and Chemical Complex) owned by ARMZ.
The best suppliers from Siberia and the Urals, as well as engineers from Europe and the US contributed to the construction and launch of the plant which boasts state-of-the-art equipment with a projected life span of some 40 years. The fundamental advantage of the plant’s technological cycle is its use of pure sulfur which does not contain arsenic or selenium to produce sulfuric acid. This allows for a substantial reduction in the release of harmful substances into the atmosphere, as well as for lower final product cost.
The plant was conceived in 2003, with commissioning work starting in 2008 and the first ton of sulfuric acid produced on April 3 2009. The plant replaced the existing sulfuric acid floor at the Priargunsky Center, which has been in operation since 1976.
Priargunsky (Priargunsky Industrial Mining and Chemical Center (City of Krasnokamensk, Trans-Baikal Territory)
Priargunsky is one of the world’s largest uranium-mining centers; it has been developing deposits in the Streltzovsky Uranium Ore District since 1968. Over more than 40 years of operation, it has produced over 130 000 tons of uranium. Uranium is obtained from four subterranean mines, with subsequent ore processing at the hydrometallurgical plant. Some 10% of uranium is produced using the heap leaching method. Post-2015, the Company plans to produce 5 000 tons of uranium annually.
ARMZ Uranium Holding Co. (ARMZ)
ARMZ is the world’s fifth largest uranium producer with operating mines in Russia and Kazakhstan. During 2008, operations in which ARMZ is involved produced 3 687 tons of uranium (9.6 million pounds of U3O8). It is owned by Rosatom, the Russian State Corporation for Nuclear Energy, and is appointed and authorized by Rosatom to supply fuel for the Russian nuclear industry.
