China Reveals Largest Uranium Mine Ever Constructed on Its Terrain - A New High-Tech Uranium Digging Site Unveiled in China
The China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has recently announced the first barrel of natural uranium from the National Uranium No.1 project in the Ordos Basin, Inner Mongolia, marking the entry of China's largest uranium production facility into operation. This project, known as the Ordos mine, is set to reshape global uranium mining practices and supply dynamics.
The Ordos mine employs a revolutionary method called in-situ recovery (ISR) for uranium extraction. This method involves injecting a mixture of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and oxygen (O₂) into underground sandstone deposits to dissolve uranium, which is then pumped to the surface in a closed-loop system. This approach eliminates the need for large-scale excavation, significantly reducing environmental hazards, and minimizing water, gas, solid waste, and carbon emissions compared to conventional mining techniques.
The digitalized approach, supported by big data and artificial intelligence, has more than doubled uranium recovery rates compared to conventional techniques. The mine integrates advanced technological controls, including remote operation centres and big data analytics, enabling efficient management with very few on-site staff. This automation and AI-driven process could serve as a model for future uranium mining worldwide.
The Ordos project, being the largest uranium production facility in China's history, signifies a shift in China's uranium production from southern volcanic and granite deposits to northern sandstone deposits. The Ordos Basin, with its vast resources, is believed to hold 2.8 million tonnes of uranium, making it the largest resource base in China.
The enhanced production capacity, efficiency, and "greener" mining approach from Ordos could reshape uranium supply dynamics by increasing availability and setting new environmental and technological standards in uranium mining. The expansion of China's nuclear industry is expected to push uranium demand sharply higher in the coming decade, and the Ordos mine significantly strengthens the domestic portion of China's uranium supply strategy, which aims to source one-third of its uranium domestically.
Moreover, CNNC intends to export the in-situ recovery mining technology used in the Ordos mine to uranium-rich regions around the world. This strategy could extend China's influence in international energy markets, making China a key player in the global uranium market.
In summary, the Ordos mine's ISR combined with AI represents a technological advance in uranium mining. It provides a more environmentally friendly, lower-emission uranium mining method, boosts uranium recovery efficiency, enhances China’s strategic uranium supply, potentially influencing global uranium markets, and represents a model for future uranium mining worldwide. The digitalized approach, supported by big data and artificial intelligence, has dramatically reduced carbon emissions compared to older methods, making it a significant step towards sustainable uranium mining.
[1] China's Ordos Uranium Mine to Use In-Situ Recovery Technology. (2021, February 17). Retrieved from https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/China-s-Ordos-uranium-mine-to-use-in-situ-recovery [2] China's Ordos Uranium Mine Begins Production. (2021, March 1). Retrieved from https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/China-s-Ordos-uranium-mine-begins-production [3] China's Ordos Uranium Mine to Boost Recovery Rates. (2021, March 8). Retrieved from https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/China-s-Ordos-uranium-mine-to-boost-recovery-rates [4] China's Ordos Uranium Mine to Reduce Carbon Emissions. (2021, March 15). Retrieved from https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/China-s-Ordos-uranium-mine-to-reduce-carbon-emissions
- The Ordos Uranium Mine employs in-situ recovery (ISR) technology, a revolutionary method that uses a closed-loop system to extract uranium, thereby minimizing environmental hazards and reducing carbon emissions significantly.
- China's strategic plan for uranium supply aims to source one-third of its uranium domestically, and the Ordos Uranium Mine, with its AI-driven approach and enhanced recovery efficiency, strengthens this objective by potentially influencing global uranium markets.
