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NATIONAL REPORTS: ARGENTINA

In the mining sector, a conceptual study was conducted using specific software for geological modelling. A pre-technical economic feasibility study was completed, with prior validation of all information (tonnages, grade, geotechnical, geostructural and hydrogeological) with some surface works.

Currently, governmental funds are intended to be used to carry out the basic engineering studies of both the mining operation and also the processing plant.

Besides technical considerations, a Chubut provincial Law 5001/03 that prevents open-pit mining is still in effect and mining projects need to wait for the Chubut provincial territory zoning provisions of the aforementioned law, as well as the introduction of a mining regulatory framework for this jurisdiction.

Ownership structure of the uranium industry

In Argentina, the uranium industry is currently owned by the government. Private sector participation exists only in the exploration phase, although legislation provides for the participation of both state and private sectors in uranium exploration and production activities.

Uranium production centre technical details

(as of 1 January 2017)

NATIONAL REPORTS: ARGENTINA

have security drainage systems and double waterproofing HDPE geo-membrane to control leaks. These ponds are designed for providing the necessary conditions (residence time) to generate As and Ra precipitates before they are conducted to the effluent pond “DN 8-9” for final disposal.

Other remediation activities

Other activities related to waste management are been carried out, such as cisterns, waterproofing, design of wastewater treatment systems, repairing facilities and the installation of pipes for pumping effluents between the quarries and the processing and treatment facilities.

Cerro Solo ore deposit (Chubut Province)

As requested by the provincial authorities, environmental baseline studies are being developed by CNEA through contracts with universities and institutes, and some parts of the studies (archaeological, palaeontological and socio-economic impact) have already been presented to the provincial authorities. In addition, CNEA continues with social communication activities, offering information on mining activities to the neighbourhoods located near the proposed mining projects and areas of exploration.

Monitoring

The San Rafael Mining-Milling Complex Remediation Project (Mendoza Province)

CNEA currently has an intense monitoring programme, which includes:

•Surface water: systematic sampling of surface water – run-off, upstream and downstream of the facilities are undertaken to follow the evolution of possible pollutants concentration (U, As, Ra, among others) inside and outside CNEA’s influence area.

•Groundwater: systematic sampling of groundwater within a redesigned well network inside the complex is being carried out.

•Air pollution: particulate matter and radon emissions are periodically sampled within key locations of the complex.

•Open-pit water: systematic sampling of open-pit water is being carried out in every pit.

Cerro Solo ore deposit (Chubut Province)

The sampling work includes water samples from exploration wells, water samples from domestic wells (owned by inhabitants of the area), surface run-off and sediment from streams and springs in the watershed (analysing for U, Ra, As, F, among others). Air pollution samples include particulate matter and radon emissions measurements.

Effluent management

The San Rafael Mining-Milling Complex Remediation Project (Mendoza Province)

The construction of the “DN 8-9” evaporation pond and the “DN 5” facility for treating open-pit water, aims to reduce pollutants and meet provincial water quality standards. Moreover, the design and implementation of a domestic wastewater treatment system is under study.

NATIONAL REPORTS: ARGENTINA

Site rehabilitation

The San Rafael Mining-Milling Complex Remediation Project (Mendoza Province)

In general, CNEA is submitting technical proposals to rehabilitate those areas of the complex that will not be used for uranium production in the future. Topics of these projects include: former tailings dump, open-pits rehabilitation and waste rock management, among others.

Uranium Mining Environmental Restoration Programme

Currently, CNEA is undertaking the Uranium Mining Environmental Restoration Programme (PRAMU). The aim of this programme is to restore the environment, as much as possible, in every area where uranium mining and milling activities have taken place. The sites being studied are: Malargüe (Mendoza Province), Córdoba (Córdoba Province), Los Gigantes (Córdoba Province), Huemul (Mendoza Province), Pichiñán (Chubut Province), Tonco (Salta Province), La Estela (San Luis Province), and Los colorados (La Rioja Province). PRAMU seeks to improve the current conditions of the tailings deposits and mines and to ensure the long-term protection of people and the environment. The CNEA is required to comply with all legislation that is in force and is under the control of various national, provincial and local state institutions.

Regulatory activities

Argentina’s provinces have legislation limiting certain aspects of mining activities (e.g. use of certain substances, open-pit mining, etc.). The local regulation co-exists with national legislation related to mining activities and environmental protection.

National regulations

•Law No. 25 675: “General Environmental Law” establishes minimum standards for achieving a sustainable management of the environment, the preservation and protection of biodiversity and the implementation of sustainable development.

•Law No. 1 919: “National Mining Code”, which in Title Eleventh (Articles 205 to 212) refers to nuclear minerals (U and Th).

•Law No. 24 585: Obligation of submitting an environmental impact assessment (EIA) prior to each stage of development of a mining project. It sets the maximum acceptable limits of various effluent parameters in water, air and soil.

Mendoza provincial regulations

•Law No. 3 790, created the Mining General Direction and states that their specific functions are the administration, control and promotion of the mining industry in all its phases and throughout the territory of the province.

•Law No. 7 722 prohibits on the territory of the Mendoza Province, the use of chemicals such as cyanide, mercury, sulphuric acid, and other similar toxic substances in metalliferous mining, including prospecting, exploration, exploitation and industrialisation of metal ores obtained by any extraction method.

•Resolution No. 778/96 of the General Department of Irrigation (DGI) regulates all activities that may affect the quality of surface water and groundwater in the territory of the Province of Mendoza.

NATIONAL REPORTS: ARGENTINA

Chubut provincial regulations

Law XVII-No. 68 prohibits open-pit methods for metal mining activity in the province of Chubut, as well as the use of cyanide in mining production processes. It also mentions the need of zoning in the territory of the province for the exploitation of mineral resources with an approved production model for each case.

Uranium requirements

The uranium requirements listed below correspond to an estimation made in the Strategic Nuclear Energy Planning 2010-2030 and the reactivation of the Argentine Nuclear Energy Plan launched in 2006. As of 2013, the nuclear plan includes:

•extending the life of Embalse NPP (in progress);

•extending the life of Atucha I NPP;

•construction of the 4th and 5th NPPs (planned);

•development and construction of a small modular nuclear power reactor (CAREM) (in progress);

•reactivation of uranium enrichment (in progress);

•reactivation of uranium mining industry.

The most important update in Argentine nuclear production was the start-up of Atucha II (745 MWe), reaching first criticality at the end of 2014.

Also proposed is the expansion of the nuclear energy network, which would be covered by the construction of the 4th and 5th NPPs consisting of one PHWR-type reactor (CANDU 6) of 700 MWe and a PWR-type reactor of 1 150 MWe.

In addition, CNEA is currently carrying out the construction of the CAREM-25 (25 MWe) small modular reactor prototype and is planning to build another two larger units, CAREM-150 (150 MWe by 2032).

Embalse has been out of the electricity generation system for two years for refurbishment tasks designed to extend its useful life for a term of 30 years, which will include an increase in its power by an additional 35 MWe. Within the 2019-2020 period, Atucha I will be inoperative and at that time will undergo facility refurbishment.

Supply and procurement strategy

Argentina is carrying out an exploration programme and it is developing projects for restarting domestic uranium production to achieve self-sufficiency in uranium supply.

Uranium policies, uranium stocks and uranium prices

National policies relating to uranium

The Nuclear Activity Law of 1997 establishes the respective roles of CNEA and the Nuclear Regulatory Authority. It also provides for the participation of both public and private sectors in uranium exploration and development activities.

The National Mining Code of 1994 states that the government has the first option to purchase all uranium produced in Argentina and that export of uranium is dependent upon first guaranteeing domestic supply. It also regulates development activities to ensure the use of environmental practices that comply with international standards.

NATIONAL REPORTS: ARGENTINA

Uranium stocks

Nowadays, CNEA does not have the responsibility of ensuring the uranium concentrate stock. The uranium dioxide producing company (Dioxitek S.A.) and the nuclear power plants operator (Nucleoeléctrica Argentina S.A., NA-SA) hold the responsibility of guaranteeing a uranium stock for at least two years of Argentina’s nuclear power plants operation.

Uranium prices

There is no uranium market in Argentina.

Uranium exploration and development expenditures and drilling effort – domestic

(in Argentine pesos [ARS])

* Non-governmental.

Reasonably assured conventional resources by deposit type

(tonnes U)

Reasonably assured conventional resources by production method

(tonnes U)

* Industry share of 22% with a recovery factor of 70%.

* A subset of open-pit and underground mining, since it is used in conjunction with them.

Inferred conventional resources by deposit type

(tonnes U)

Inferred conventional resources by production method

(tonnes U recoverable, assuming 72% mining and milling recovery)

Inferred conventional resources by processing method

(tonnes U)

NATIONAL REPORTS: ARGENTINA

Prognosticated conventional resources

(tonnes U)

Cost ranges

Speculative conventional resources

(tonnes U)

Cost ranges

* Estimated over five investigation units.

Historical uranium production by deposit type

(tonnes U in concentrate)

Historical uranium production by production method

(tonnes U in concentrate)

1. Pre-2012 totals may include uranium recovered by heap and in-place leaching.

Historical uranium production by processing method

(tonnes U in concentrate)

* Also known as stope leaching or block leaching.

Annual reactor-related uranium requirements to 2035 (excluding MOX)

(tonnes U)

NATIONAL REPORTS: ARMENIA

Armenia

Uranium exploration

Historical review

On 23 April 2007, the Director-General of Rosatom (a state corporation of Russia) and the Armenian Minister of Ecology Protection signed a protocol on the realisation of uranium exploration work in Armenia.

Based on this protocol, an Armenian-Russian joint venture, CJ-SC Armenian-Russian Mining Company (ARMC), was established in April 2008 for the purpose of geological exploration, mining and processing of uranium. The founders of ARMC are the Armenian government and Atomredmetzoloto of Russia.

Within this framework, the collection and analysis of archival material relevant to uranium mining has been completed. The document Geologic Exploration Activity for 2009-2010 aimed at the uranium ore exploration in Armenia was published and approved. According to this document, in the Spring of 2009, field work related to uranium ore exploration started in the province of Syunik.

Geological prospecting works were carried out on the 1st Voghchi zone of the PkhrutLernadzor licensed area in 2011. Geologic prospecting identified some anomalies. All plans for geologic prospecting in 2011 were fulfilled by January 2012. In 2012, legislated works were implemented.

Exploration of the block 1st Voghchi zone identified reserves of uranium ores classified in category C2. Calculations of inferred resources of the Voghchi zone of the Pkhrut deposit indicated that the deposit is prospective.

In 2013, the Armenian-Russian joint venture was suspended.

Uranium production

In 2007, the Armenian government decided that Armenia would enter into an agreement with the governments of Kazakhstan and Russia to establish an international uranium enrichment centre (IUEC) at the Angarsk electrolytic chemical combine in Russia. Armenia completed the legal registration of accession and in 2010 joined the IUEC.

Armenia does not produce uranium.

Uranium requirements

There have been no changes to Armenia’s nuclear energy programme during the past two years. The country’s short-term uranium requirements remain the same and are based on the operation of one VVER-440 unit (Armenian-2). A detailed forecast for uranium requirements was carried out, taking into account the designed lifetime for this reactor, which has an installed capacity of about 407.5 MWe.