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NATIONAL REPORTS: TURKEY

Uranium resources

Identified conventional resources (reasonably assured and inferred resources)

In 2015 and 2016, anşadditional 698 tonnes U3O8 (592 tU) in situ resources were added to the Manisa-Köprüba ı original estimates by MTA. These recently identified resources occur within the Neogene sediments and limestones.

Identified conventional uranium resources in Turkey, determined from exploration activities performed by MTA in the past, with the addition of JORC compliant resources

şwork by Adur exploration, are described in more detail below:

•Manisa-Köprüba ı: 3 011 tU in ten orebodies and at grades of 0.04-0.05% U3O8 (0ş.034-0ş.042% U) in fluvial Neogene sediments;

•U ak-E me: 415 tU at 0.044% U3O8 (0.037% U) in Neogene lacustrine sediments;

•Aydın-Koçarlı: 176 tU at 0.05% U3O8 (0.042% U) in Neogene sediments;

•Aydın-Söke: 1 466 tU at 0.08% U3O8 (0.068% U) in gneiss fracture zones;identified

The Temrezli (Yozgat/Sorgun) uranium deposit is one of Turkey’s largest and highestgrade uranium deposits, with a JORC compliant mineral resource estimate of 13 282 Mlb U3O8 (5 110 tU) at an average grade of 1 157 ppm (0.117%) U3O8 and an average depth of 120 m. The mineral resource estimate is as follows in detail:

* Numbers rounded for reporting purposes.

Undiscovered conventional resources (prognosticated and speculative resources)

•Temrezli Project: The ongoing exploration and development drilling is to be continued and is expected to increase the resource by a potential of 1-3 Mlb U3O8.

•Sefaatli Prospect: Exploration and development drilling conducted in 2015 is

expected to increase the known uranium resource values by approximately 5-6 Mlb U3O8. The recent drill results include 1.10 m mineralisation at a grade of 2 150 ppm eU3O8 from 39 m.

Unconventional resources and other materials

None reported, but grassroots exploration is in place.

Uranium production

Historical review

Research on laboratory-scale production of uranium and the production of nuclear fuel was performed in the past (7th National Development Plan of the Republic of Turkey between 1996 and 2000).

NATIONAL REPORTS: TURKEY

Status of production facilities, production capability, recent and ongoing activities and other issues

None reported.

Environmental activities and socio-cultural issues

Uranium exploration is assessed within the scope of Article 55 of the Annex-II list in the by-law on environmental impact assessment (EIA) by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization. Mine production activities for 25 ha and above, together with the mine enrichment activities, are evaluated within the scope of Annex-I list of the EIA by-law.

Regulatory regime

The Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK), as the regulatory body of Turkey, undertakes all the regulatory activities concerning nuclear and radiation safety together with the co-ordination and support of research and development activities in the nuclear field.

TAEK was established by the Act of Turkish Atomic Energy Authority, which was issued in the Official Gazette number 17753 on 13 July 1982 as a government body reporting to the Prime Minister. TAEK had been affiliated with the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources since 2002.

TAEK is responsible for defining safety measures for all nuclear activities and for drawing up regulations concerning radiological protection and the licensing and safety of nuclear installations.

In Turkey, nuclear installations are licensed by TAEK regarding nuclear safety, security and radiological protection issues. The licensing procedure for nuclear fuel cycle facilities is laid out in the Decree on Licensing of Nuclear Installations. According to this decree nuclear fuel cycle facilities are:

•mining, milling and refining facilities;

•conversion facilities;

•enrichment facilities;

•nuclear fuel element fabrication facilities;

•reprocessing facilities for used fuel elements;

•radioactive waste management facilities for processing the radioactive wastes (including final storage).

The licensing procedure for nuclear fuel cycle facilities is initiated by an application from the owner to be recognised as such. The licensing process comprises three main stages in succession: site licence, construction licence and operating licence. There are several permits functioning as hold points during the licensing process, such as a limited work permit, start test operating, pre-operational test permit, full capacity work permit, permission to restart operations and permission to modify the installation. For each authorisation, documents required for review and assessment of TAEK are defined in the decree. The authorisation process for the decommissioning stage is not defined in the decree however; authorisation for decommissioning will be defined in a draft law and other relevant legislation.

The Law on Mining (number 3213) of 4 June 1985 includes articles for environmental remediation during and after mining activities. Mining organisations must submit a financial bond for environmental remediation prior to the issuance of a mining licence.

NATIONAL REPORTS: TURKEY

After mining activities have been completed and the site has been environmentally remediated, the submitted financial bond is returned to the mining organisation. In case the financial bond is not sufficient to implement environmental remediation activities, additional costs are requested from the operator according to law number 6183.

Uranium requirements

There are no nuclear power plants in operation, under construction or decommissioned in Turkey. However, Turkey has been considering building a nuclear power plant since the 1970s. Rising energy demand, import dependence and industrial activity are the driving forces behind Turkey’s move towards developing a civil nuclear power generation programme. Turkey’s recent efforts in this area can be characterised as a first-of-a-kind approach in the nuclear sector and has been referred to as an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) model, with long-term contracts in the frame of power purchase agreements. In this approach, a project company undertakes to design, build, operate and maintain a power plant, whereas the Turkish government is responsible for providing the site, various financial and non-financial guarantees, construction support and licensing. The project company is also responsible for managing wastes and decommissioning the facility.

An IGA, signed with Russia for the construction of four VVER-1200 units at the Mediterranean Akkuyu site, entered into force on 21 July 2010. The Russian side established a “project company” in Turkey, it finished site surveys and environmental impact assessment studies and developed design documentation on the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). In March 2017, the “project company” made a construction licence application to TAEK. It is planned to start construction of the first NPP unit in the third quarter of 2017, while pouring of concrete is planned in the first quarter of 2018 after obtaining a construction licence from TAEK. Currently the Russian side owns 100% of the shares of the power plant and will maintain the majority of the shares during the NPP’s entire operation lifetime.

Turkey also signed an IGA with Japan on 3 May 2013 to build four ATMEA1 units at the Black Sea Sinop site. This agreement was ratified by the Turkish parliament on 1 April 2015 together with the respective annexes. For the Sinop NPP project, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkey (MENR) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI) on 7 September 2016. The technical and economic feasibility studies for the Sinop NPP will be completed in March 2018.

Another memorandum of understanding was signed between MENR and the China National Energy Administration for Civil Nuclear Cooperation on 29 June 2016. The site selection for the third NPP project is expected to be completed in the short term.

Supply and procurement strategy

In order to promote private sector investments for the construction and operation of NPPs, the Law on the Construction and Operation of Nuclear Power Plants and Energy Sale, numbered 5710 and dated 9 November 2007 (“Nuclear Law”) was enacted in Turkey. Article 3 of the Nuclear Law states that the procedures and principles regarding fuel supply shall be prepared by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and set up in a regulation that shall come into force with the approval of the Council of Ministers.

Provisions related to fuel supply for the Akkuyu NPP have been included under the IGA signed with Russia for the construction of four VVER-1200 units. Under Article 12 of this agreement, it is stated that nuclear fuel shall be sourced from suppliers on the basis of long-term agreements between the “project company” established by the Russian side in Turkey and the suppliers. Currently, the “project company” is negotiating with the

NATIONAL REPORTS: TURKEY

Russian company TVEL (the nuclear fuel producer) in order to sign the long-term contract on a lifetime supply of fresh nuclear fuel for the Akkuyu NPP. The nuclear fuel will be of Russian origin.

Provisions related to fuel supply for the Sinop NPP will be established once the feasibility study is completed.

Uranium policies, uranium stocks and uranium prices

National policies relating to uranium

The law on the “Operation of Boron Salts, Trona and Asphaltite Mines and Nuclear Energy Raw Materials” numbered 2840 and dated 10 June 1983 states that the exploration and operation of such mines are carried out by the state.

Mining Law numbered 3213 (dated 4 June 1985) classifies uranium reserves under the 6th group of mines together with all other radioactive minerals and supersedes law number 2840. Article 49 of law number 3213 states that provisions under law number 2840 are preserved, although private companies are now allowed to explore for and operate thorium and uranium mines. Article 50 states that exploration and operation of thorium and uranium mines are subject to this law and the minerals extracted can only be sold to entities determined by the Council of Ministers.

Uranium exploration and development expenditures and drilling effort – domestic

(TRY [Turkish lira] – excluding VAT)

* Non-government.

NATIONAL REPORTS: TURKEY

The law on the “Amendment of mining law and other laws” numbered 6592 and dated 18 February 2015 has reclassified the uranium reserves under the 4th group of minerals together with all radioactive minerals. With this amendment the radioactive minerals are placed in the same group with complex minerals.

Uranium stocks

Uranium stocks in Turkey consist of natural uranium used by the Çekmece Nuclear Research and Training Center affiliated to Turkish Atomic Energy Authority for research purposes.

Reasonably assured conventional resources by deposit type

(tonnes U*)

* In situ resources.

Reasonably assured conventional resources by production method

(tonnes U*)

* In situ resources.

Reasonably assured conventional resources by processing method

(tonnes U*)

*In situ resources.

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

Inferred conventional resources by deposit type

(tonnes U*)

* In situ resources.

NATIONAL REPORTS: TURKEY

Inferred conventional resources by production method

(tonnes U*)

* In situ resources.

Inferred conventional resources by processing method

(tonnes U*)

* In situ resources.

Installed nuclear generating capacity to 2035

(MWe net)

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

(tonnes U)

Total uranium stocks

(tonnes natural U-equivalent)

NATIONAL REPORTS: UKRAINE

Ukraine

Uranium exploration and mine development

Historical review

Prospecting for uranium in Ukraine began in 1944 with the analysis of geological exploration data and mining activity results in the Northern Krivoy Rog ore basin. The Pervomayskoye and Zheltorechenskoye uranium deposits were discovered in the 1950s. These deposits were mined out in 1967 and 1989, respectively.

During the same period of time, the first sandstone-type deposits were discovered.

In the mid-1960s, the main geological exploration was concentrated in the Kirovograd ore area for the discovery of metasomatite-type uranium deposits. Deposits such as Michurinskiy, Vatutinskiy, Severinskiy, Central and Novokonstantinovskiy were discovered in this area.

Metasomatite-type deposits make up the main part of uranium resources of Ukraine. The average ore grade in these deposits is 0.1-0.2% U.

The second uranium resources source is sandstone-type deposits, with an average ore grade between 0.02 and 0.06% U. They are suitable for mining by ISL.

Ongoing uranium exploration and mine development activities

During 2014, 2015 and 2016, SE Kirovgeology finalised the geological survey mapping at a scale of 1:10 000 and 1:25 000 on all exploration targets mentioned in the Red Book 2016 report. Starting with 2017, all exploration will be carried out around the existing uranium mines. The evaluation of potential thorium resources in the Ukrainian Shield rocks will continue.

Ukraine thorium deposit types and speculative resources

The Ukrainian state and private companies do not carry out any exploration for uranium in other countries. Foreign or private companies do not carry out any uranium exploration activities in Ukraine.

NATIONAL REPORTS: UKRAINE

Uranium resources

Identified conventional resources (reasonably assured and inferred resources)

As of 1 January 2017, identified uranium resources (reasonably assured and inferred resources) recoverable at costs <USD 260/kgU were 219 065 tU. Uranium resources recoverable at costs <USD 80/kgU were 58 268 tU. Mining and processing losses are taken into account in these figures.

The main uranium resources of economic interest are found in two types of deposits:

•Metasomatite-type, monometallic deposits located within the Kirovograd block of the Ukrainian Shield. The uranium ore grade is 0.1-0.2% U. All deposits are suitable for underground mining.

uranium, in these ores, molybdenum, selenium and rare earth elements of the lanthanide group occur. These deposits are suitable for mining by ISL.

Undiscovered resources (prognosticated and speculative resources)

After review, undiscovered resources were recalculated and amount to 277 500 tU, including:

•Prognosticated resources amount to 22 500 tU and are found at the flanks of identified deposits.

•Speculative resources amount to 255 000 tU. The calculation is based on the data from the uranium prognostic map (scale of 1:500 000), which was drawn up by SE Kirovgeology. Speculative resources are subdivided according to geological types as follows:

–133 500 tU metasomatite-type;

–20 000 tU in sandstone deposits in the Ukrainian Shield;

–16 500 tU in sandstone (in bitumen) on the slopes of the Ukrainian Shield;

–40 000 tU in “unconformity-related” type deposits;

–30 000 tU in granite-related type deposits;

–15 000 tU in “intrusive” potassium metasomatite deposits.

Uranium production

Historical review

The mining of uranium ore began in 1946 at the deposits of Pervomayskoye and Zheltorechenskoye, using conventional underground methods.

In 1949, the first production began in Ukraine at a uranium processing plant, Pridneprovskiy Chemical Plant (PCP), in the town of Dneprodzerzhinsk.

In 1951, the government founded the Vostochnyi Mining-process Combinat (VostGOK) in Zheltiye Vody in the Dnepropetrovsk region, for the mining and processing of ore from Pervomayskoye and Zheltorechenskoye deposits. The Pervomayskoye deposit was mined out in 1967 and the Zheltorechenskoye deposit was mined out in 1989.

In 1959, the second uranium processing plant was built in Zheltiye Vody.

NATIONAL REPORTS: UKRAINE

Today, VostGok operates uranium production facilities in the Central Ukrainian ore province. The company is mining the Michurinskiy (3 km to south from Kirovograd), Central (on the south-east end of Kirovograd), Vatutinskiy (near the town Smolino) and Novokonstantinovskiy (40 km west of Kirovograd) deposits. VostGOK plans to start mining the Severinskiy (4 km north of Kirovograd) deposit in 2020.

The Michurinskiy deposit was discovered in 1964. In 1967, construction of the Ingulskiy mine began. The average ore grade of these ore bodies is 0.1% U. Radiometric sorting of ore at the mine increases the uranium content in the ore delivered to the process plant up to 0.1-0.2% U. Two shafts, each 7 m in diameter, were sunk. The ore is hoisted through the northern shaft with two buckets with a loading capacity of 11 t. The southern shaft is used for transporting workers and provision, and for other technical aims. A ventilation shaft supplies 480 m3 of fresh air per second to the underground mine works. Mining is conducted in blocks of 60-70 m in height at depths of 90 m, 150 m and 240 m below the surface.

The Central deposit is developed by two shafts to horizons 380 m and 1 000 m. It is connected to the Michurinskiy deposit by an underground transport tunnel 5.2 km long at the 300 m level. Ore is delivered through the tunnel to the elevating shaft of the Ingulskiy mine.

The Vatutinskiy deposit was discovered in 1965, and in 1973, construction of the Smolinskiy mine began. The industrial infrastructure of the Smolinskiy mine is situated near the town of Smolino, 80 km west of Kirovograd. Mined rock is delivered to the surface by two shafts (the “main” and “additional”). Both shafts are sunk to a depth of 460 m. The lower part of the deposit, trending to the depth 640 m, was stripped by two blind shafts (“blind-1” and “blind-2”).

Stationary compressor terminals were installed on the surface of each shaft to produce compressed air used for blast drilling operations. Within each cleaned block, after the blasting, ore is moved to a loading pocket, unloaded from mine cars and transported by electric-powered trams to the main shaft, where it is crushed before being hoisted to the surface. Radiometric ore-sorting, storage, loading to railway carriages and shipping for process are carried out on the surface. Mined-out space is backfilled by hardening hydro-packing.

The Novokonstantinovskiy deposit has been developed by three shafts to horizons 480 m and 1 100 m below the surface. Mining of the Novokonstantinovskiy deposit began in 2011.

On the Severinkovskiy and Podgayscevskiy deposits two shafts were sank down to a depth of 650 m during exploration.

ISL uranium mining began in Ukraine in 1961. From 1966 to 1983, uranium in the Devladovskoye and Bratskoye deposits was extracted by using sulphuric acid ISL at depths of about 100 m. At present, both deposits are under monitoring.

The government still plans to mine Safonovskiy and Sadoviy deposits by ISL method.

Status of production facilities, production capability, recent and ongoing activities and other issues

Hydrometallurgical processing plant

The VostGOK hydrometallurgical process plant is situated in the town of Zheltiye Vody. The annual capacity of the plant is 1.5 Mt of ore. The plant’s staff is made up of 30 to 35 persons per shift. The ore is transported to the plant by specially equipped trains from two mines – Ingulskiy (100 km west) and Navokonstantinovskiy (130 km west). After crushing and radiometric sorting, the ore is leached in autoclaves using sulphuric acid at the temperature of 150 to 200°C at 20 atmospheres for 4 hours. Acid consumption is

NATIONAL REPORTS: UKRAINE

80 kg/t of ore. For the uranium extraction, ion-exchange resin is used. After washing with a mixture of sulphuric and nitric acids, the uranium-bearing solution is subjected to further concentration and purification by solvents extraction. Ammonium gas is used for precipitation. The dewatered precipitate is subjected to calcination at 800°C until a product of dark colour is obtained.

Innovation techniques in uranium production

Metasomatite-type deposits in Ukraine have a uranium ore grade of about 0.1% U, with mineralisation (uraninite, brannerite, coffinite, nasturane) disseminated throughout the volume of ore in steeply dipping ore bodies. Since the mines are located some 100 km and 150 km from the hydrometallurgical plant, transportation costs add to mining and processing costs.

Mining is carried out with the underground method. Processing of ore begins from crushing underground, followed by extraction by sulphuric acid leaching in autoclaves. Low-grade uranium ore, combined with an expensive mining and ore process technology, makes uranium production unprofitable at current market prices. In order to decrease production costs, innovative technologies are being introduced, such as underground radiometric sorting, in-place leaching, heap leaching and reprocessing of materials in dumps of operating mines.

A multistage radiometric separator, designed by VostGOK for different sized piles, allows sorting of both mined ore and material in mine dumps. After the radiometric sorting, uranium content in the ore may reach 0.03-0.3% U. The uranium content in “tailings” following this sorting is 0.006% U or less.

The rocks in the dumps have an average X-ray specific activity at the level of 1 500-1 600 Bk/kg. After the radiometric sorting, rocks going to the waste dump have X-ray levels of only 350-650 Bk/kg and thus can be used as second class construction material.

Separators may be installed both on the surface and underground. The capacity of two separators (for different machine classes) is 1 500 thousand tons of ore per year.

Three products are obtained after the radiometric separation of dump rocks:

•30% – uranium ore grading 0.05-0.06% U;

•55% – “tailings” with specific activity less than 740 Bk/kg for use as second class construction material;

•15% – inert material for use as hydro-backfill of mined-out space in the mine.

After the crushing, uranium ore undergoes heap leaching (HL). Extraction of uranium during HL is about 70-75% U per year of leaching. The cost of 1 kg of U3O8 after HL is 62% of the cost of processing 1 kg U3O8 at the hydrometallurgical process plant.

Low-grade ore bodies with a uranium content of 0.04-0.06% U are mined using the inplace leaching (IPL) method. A special technology of explosion has been used for disaggregating the ore blocks. The uranium concentration in pregnant solutions changes from 50 mg/l at the beginning to 1 000 mg/l at the end of leaching the disaggregated ore blocks. The cost of IPL is 58% less than conventional technology of ore mining and processing. Three blocks have been prepared now for mining by the IPL method.

Although most metasomatite-type ore deposits are suitable for HL, finely disseminated uranium mineralisation, as in the case of highly durable abilities of low permeability, is necessary for effective HL. Therefore, the degree of crushing is the most important parameter, which determines the degree of uranium recovery and permeability. The maximum size of uranium mineral particles is usually from 1 to 5 mm. With an optimum size of ore material of 10 mm, 80-90% uranium recovery can be achieved after 2-3 months.