Annual output of the Kazakhstani ISL mine first in the world reached one thousand tons of uranium

By December 22, 2006, Akdala ISL mine of the JV Betpak-Dala LLP, Sozak region, South-Kazakhstani oblast, produced one thousand tons of uranium. The mine is the first in the world having produced such an amount by in-situ leaching during one year.

The mine was put into operation under the programme developed by the National Atomic Company "Kazatomprom" to meet the world market demand for uranium by increasing its uranium production up to 15,000 tons by 2010.

The target of 900 t U of the approved production plan was hit as early as November 25, 2006. "It was a result of the JV Betpak-Dala' team efforts under the guidance of the General Director Rifat Rizoyev. Everyone at the mine has adequately contributed to hit the target of producing 1,000 t U in 2006. We have ambitious plans and wish to be among three top uranium production facilities in the Republic of Kazakhstan", said Bauyrzhan Berdaliyev, Director of the mine.

Akdala is a young developing mine. The total reserves and resources of the deposit are estimated as 14,000 t U. Commercial uranium production at the mine was launched in 2004, and in 2005 it attained 726 t U. According to JV Betpak-Dala plans, they intend to reach the full production capacity of 3,000 t U per year by 2011 (including a mine under construction at South Inkai site).

Note:

Betpak-Dala LLP was founded in 2004 by Urasia Energy (Canada) and JSC NAC "Kazatomprom" (Kazakhstan). Since February 14, 2006, JV Betpak-Dala LLP has started introducing management systems to meet international standards ISO 9901: 2000 (Quality Management), OHSAS 18001:1999 (Occupational Health and Safety), ISO 14001:2004 (Environmental Management). In November 2006, "Russian Register" (Certification Association, Almaty) performed preliminary verification of the existing management systems in the company to identify its readiness to be certified for compliance with the international standards. The result of verification was positive.