Republic of Namibia Leading Media Representatives Visited Dalur

During their visit to the Company, the guests were shown the entire production chain: from the deposits to the finished product: ammonium polyuranate (yellow cake). In addition, it was explained to the journalists why the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recognized the in-situ leaching (ISL) as the most environmentally friendly and safe method to develop deposits.

7% of the world’s uranium reserves are concentrated in Namibia. «A large sandstone-type deposit suitable for the ISL mining has been discovered in the Omaheke region of our country. Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation plans to start mining uranium there. We want to see how this process takes place in Russia, whether there is any hazard to the environment and humans. And we want to share what we will see with the people in Namibia», — Emil Seibeb, a journalist for the Namibian Media Corporation, explained the goal of their trip.

Uranium mining is essential to the economy of this African country. Uranium is one of the six minerals that have been declared «strategically important» by the Namibian Government.

Uranium One (an international group of companies managed by TENEX Group of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation) is the operator of the Wings exploration project in Namibia. Under this project, the search and exploration of uranium deposits is carried out within the Sampriet Artesian Basin (SAB) located 300 km southeast of the metropolitan city of Windhoek. According to the latest data, these deposits can provide a record production: the Wings project has the potential to be included into the TOP-10 new uranium deposits in terms of production value within 15 years. Until 2026, geological exploration, experimental and design activities will be completed, whereas the start of uranium mining is planned in 2029 (which is important to meet the needs of the Russian nuclear industry).

The Republic of Namibia ranks third in terms of uranium reserves, after Kazakhstan and Australia; therefore, the Wings project is today one of the most important and promising drivers of the country’s domestic economy. The total predicted raw material potential of this prospective area is estimated at 200 to 350 thousand tons of uranium, which corresponds to a large uranium province.

The main objective of the project at this stage is to carry out field testing of the in-situ leaching (ISL) method. It is the field testing that will answer all the key questions: confirming the possibility of using the ISL method for the industrial development of deposits; providing the necessary engineering and economic parameters to prepare the Feasibility Study; proving the environmental safety of this method.

Kamol Kadyrov, First Deputy Director General — Production Director, Dalur, JSC: «We should explain people the safety and benefits of in-situ leaching method. Here, in the Kurgan Region, we also did this, and we still haven’t stopped communicating. As a result, we got the people’s support, including at public hearings.»

Ivan Krupyanko, Head of the Corporate Communication Department, Atomredmetzoloto, JSC, told the guests about the public environmental control project which has been implemented since 2020 by Rosatom Mining Division in the territories of its presence: «This year, in the Kurgan Region, two ecological expeditions were carried out at the request of local residents: in the Shumikha and Zverinogolovskoye districts, and their results confirmed that the radiation background corresponds to the natural level; no facts of water or soil contamination with radionuclides have been found out. Naturally, this proves the safety of our work to local residents.»

«I couldn’t ever imagine that a mining company could be so clean and safe», — journalist of the Namibian Media Corporation Emil Seibeb expressed the common opinion of the guests.