Govt pledges transparency in uranium mining
By Florence Bupe
Thu 29 July 2010, 14:00 CAT
MINES minister Maxwell Mwale has assured that the government will ensure transparency in the exploration and mining of uranium.
Giving a ministerial statement to Parliament on the status of uranium exploration and mining in Zambia, Mwale disclosed that the government had so far issued licences to Denson Mining and African Energy Resources to commence uranium exploration and mining.
He said the country would move cautiously on the mining of uranium in conformity to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) requirements.
“We are applying set standards in conformity with the requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency standards. An investor cannot commence operations until they’ve met all the standards of the agency as well as the Zambian environmental safety requirements as stipulated by the Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ),” he said.
Mwale said his ministry would consult widely with various stakeholders to ensure that uranium exploration and mining benefit the public, rather than harm the environment.
“If handled well, uranium mining can significantly benefit the country’s economy. The sector can help in poverty alleviation through the creation of employment and also the development of areas, since most sites identified to contain uranium deposits are located in least developed areas,” he said.
Mwale said his ministry was working with relevant partners to build capacity in the management of uranium mining.
He also said the country would follow the IAEA standards in the marketing of uranium to ensure that it did not land in countries that will use it for the production of harmful elements like nuclear energy.
“Zambia has no immediate plans to use uranium locally, but we will be cautious in the marketing process so that we do not destine our uranium for countries that will produce harmful products,” said Mwale.
Labels: IAEA, MAXWELL MWALE, URANIUM
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Govt approves uranium policy
By Kabanda Chulu
Tuesday October 07, 2008 [04:00]
THE government has approved the uranium policy that will regulate the production and mining of the mineral in Zambia. Following the recent discovery of uranium by several mining companies in the country, concerns were raised that Zambia lacks the capacity to control uranium mining in terms of storage, safety, security and transportation and if not handled properly, the development could have a negative impact instead of bringing economic benefits.
But in an interview yesterday, mines minister Dr Kalombo Mwansa said the government devised the guidelines to regulate the mining of uranium in the country and involved the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for scrutiny and guidance.
He said the government was mindful of the concerns raised, hence its decision to involve the United Nations atomic agency to attain international standards.
“Guidelines for uranium mining have now become law and if companies and developers successfully comply with all requirements, licences will be issued to them to commence production and mining as soon as possible,” said Dr Mwansa.
“As government, we are concerned about safety and security especially to end users and we developed guidelines to ensure full compliance of UN regulations and these guidelines were sent to the IAEA for scrutiny and guidance.”
Canadian-based mining giant Equinox Minerals has discovered uranium deposits at its Lumwana copper project in North Western Province and has since embarked on a Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) to pave way for the mining of uranium.
And Omega Corp Limited has also intensified its exploration operations in Siavonga with its Kariba uranium project, reaching advanced stages while Albidon Zambia has partnered with Africa Energy Resources to explore the presence of uranium mineralisation at its Njame east project in Chirundu.
Labels: IAEA, KALOMBO MWANSA, URANIUM
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Mining of uranium to start next year
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Tuesday April 22, 2008 [04:00] Print
GOVERNMENT is set to start issuing mining licences for uranium this June as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) approves Zambia’s new regulations on Uranium, mines minister Dr Kalombo Mwansa has announced.
And African Energy Resources (AER) Zambia Limited has spent about US$5 million in exploration works at the Chirundu Uranium joint venture project and that the company expects to start mining activities by last quarter of 2009, according to project manager Wilscort Banda.
Speaking in Southern Province last week where he went to inspect the progress on uranium explorations, Dr Mwansa said the law to cover for the mining, storage and transportation of uranium would be ready by June this year.
Dr Mwansa insisted that the government would be ready with the regulations on the mining storage, and transportation of uranium before any of the companies exploring for the energy mineral could reach production stage.
He also said that the government would start issuing mining licences for uranium by June this year and that the regulations would encompass the proposed mining, milling and transportation of uranium and other radioactive minerals in the country.
“We have almost completed finalisation of the regulation that would enable us supervise, licence production of storage and transportation of Uranium to consuming destinations,” Dr Mwansa said.
“The regulations would be ready in the next two months. Much of the work has been done and the United Nations in charge of uranium regulations has had a look at our regulations and at our programme and we are now just finalising them and making them part of the law as a formal statutory instrument and that should done by end of June. I hope companies like Omega Corporation Minerals that are already exploring for Uranium would be among the first ones to be issued with these mining licences.”
Among the companies exploring for uranium in the country include African Energy which is which is exploring uranium jointly with Albidon Zambia Limited at the Chirundu Uranium joint venture project as well as the Kariba Valley joint project.
Other companies include Omega Corporation Minerals Limited of Canada which is searching for uranium in Mutanga area in Siavonga, Southern Province while Equinox Minerals Limited has also reported heavy presence on Uranium at its Lumwana Mine in North-Western Province.
And Dr Mwansa also disclosed that the government did not have immediate plans of starting value-addition process for uranium inform of generating electricity from the energy metal.
He said despite the energy crisis that the country has been plunged into, the government only wanted to use uranium for “economic” benefit to the country and not as an alternative source for energy.
Energy experts estimate that about 200 tonnes of Uranium Oxide (U3O8) are required to produce 1,000 megawatts of electricity for one year, slightly higher that the 900 megawatts of power that can be produced by Kafue Gorge hydropower at its optimum capacity.
“Uranium mineral can be transformed into energy but I am not sure we as Zambia are ready to do that just yet,” said Dr Mwansa. “It is a long-term project which I don’t think we will be able to do in the next 10 years. But for us we are looking at giving employment to our people and earning us some more money into the coffers through taxes but the question of transforming Uranium into energy is a long-term development which is not for the immediate concern now.
And obviously the coming of uranium mines is welcome because it will help in our programme of diversification from the tradition copper and cobalt mining that Zambia has been known for a long time and also helps in the diversification of mining from tradition Copperbelt to other areas like Southern Province.
And in terms of economic growth, it will definitely add to our Gross Domestic Product, increasing employment levels and the general uplifting of the welfare of the people around the area of mining because mining has the capacity to transform areas into phenomenon economic growth immediately when you see mining growing, other activities like agriculture also growing.”
And Banda said the construction of the uranium mine on the Chirundu Uranium was expected to start next year.
Banda also explained that although uranium mining provided a lot of anxiety, it provides the cleanest source of fuel for generating base load electricity with, with very low greenhouse gas emissions.
He also said the AER projects could deliver had the Chirundu Uranium joint venture project had the capacity to deliver enough uranium to produce 1,000 megawatts of electricity per year for almost 17 years at the current resource and that approximately 16 per cent of the current world electricity base load provided by nuclear was likely to rise significantly over the next 20 years particularly in China, Russia, India and South Africa.
“This demand is likely to rise significantly over the next 20 years because if you look at the current trends, there is just more and more demand for power and I think the hydropower is not just meeting that is giving a sharp rise in uranium prices because everyone is now going nuclear energy,” he said.
AER has two uranium joint ventures with Albidon Zambia Limited namely Chirundu joint venture which consists of Njame and Gwabe uranium deposits, while the Kariba Valley joint venture projects encompasses Chisebuka uranium anomaly and Namakande Uranium anomalies.
“One tonne of uranium oxide (U3O8) produces as good as 15, 000 tonnes of energy as coal would produce and about 9,000 tonnes as oil would produce…so uranium is quite powerful and also very clean source of energy,” Banda said. “So you can see that you don’t need lot of uranium to generate lots of power. Just 9.1million pounds of uranium would generate that much fuel for 17 years and so I think that would be a good approach if everything goes well in our project.”
The Chirundu Uranium joint venture project is said to contain approximately 9.1 million pounds in uranium resource.
Banda also said the AER is expected to deliver the first uranium cake by the fourth quarter of next year.
“We just completed a pre-feasibility study and anytime we should be proceeding with the bankable feasibility. According to our schedule, we are suppose to come with it by the last quarter of the year after which we will proceed with construction and the like and the first delivery of uranium is scheduled for the last quarter of 2009 assuming that all the permitting go through. So come late 2009, we are doing the first uranium deliveries,” Banda explained.
He also said AER, an Australian energy company focused on Uranium projects in Zambia, Botswana and Malawi, had the capacity to run a successful uranium mine.
“African Energy board has got widespread experience in developing mines in Africa. Munali Nickel is the best example, Gallery gold in Botswana, Sally Malay Nickel in Australia and Olympic dam which has uranium, copper and gold deposits are also best examples where Albidon and AER directors where directly involved. So we have a lot of experience in both explorations and mining industry, so there is no doubt that they will deliver the standards.” said Banda.
Labels: IAEA, KALOMBO MWANSA, MINING, URANIUM
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Economic competition vital - Daka
By Florence Bupe
Thursday July 26, 2007 [04:00]
SCIENCE, Technology and Vocational Training minister Peter Daka has observed that economic competitiveness is essential for the provision of high quality standards. Speaking at the opening of the National Training Course on Quality Management Systems ISO 17025 at Cresta Golfview Hotel yesterday, Daka said it was vital to have healthy economic competition in every institution as a way of ensuring sustainable quality management.
“It goes without saying that economic competitiveness of any establishment is directly linked to the quality of goods and services provided by such institutions. Quality management is indeed an essential tool in ensuring that such establishments are able to have their fair share of the market if only their goods and services ascribe to the highest quality,” he said.
The National Training Course has been organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under the theme ‘Quality Management Control Using Nuclear and Related Technologies’. IAEA mobilised K1.2 billion and offered staff training to facilitate the establishment of a Cancer Centre at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).
Daka urged course participants to ensure that they utilise the training opportunity to impact positively on the Zambian economy.
Labels: COMPETITION, IAEA, PETER DAKA
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