ISL development of Russian uranium deposit given regulatory approval

The opinion was obtained under agreement with Khiagda JSC, which is engaged in uranium mining by ISL in the Bauntovsky-Evenki District, Republic of Buryatia, ARMZ said.

"Timely implementation of this project is of national importance: this is a particularly significant task to provide the nuclear industry with natural uranium, a challenge facing the entire Mining Division," VNIPIpromtechnologii Director General Andrey Gladyshev said. Developing the Kolichikan deposit is an important part of the government's energy strategy, he added.

Earlier this year Khiagda JSC Director General Anatoly Mikhailov said works would commence once a favourable opinion was obtained from Glavgosexpertiza, with plans to plan to pave roads, install main pipelines and build overhead power lines by 2025. Residents of Bauntovsky-Evenki approved the planned construction and operation of the ISL facility during public consultations held in May, he said.

ARMZ's geological exploration and drilling subsidiary JSC Rusburmash has started drilling operations at the deposit, Rosatom said on 5 August. Rusburmash plans to drill 237 wells in production blocks at the deposit this year. Khiagda, in the north-eastern part of Buryatia Autonomous Republic, is in a region of permafrost, and the first days of work have already shown record-breaking productivity in "difficult natural and climatic conditions", it added. Four production blocks are expected to be ready for operation by 1 November.

VNIPIpromtechnologii has previously obtained positive opinions from Glavgosekspertiza for the Khiagda, Istochnoye, and Vershinnoye deposits in the Khiagda ore field. Two of those deposits - Khiagda and Istochnoye - are currently under development. The engineering centre is currently preparing design documents for the ISL development of the Dybryn deposit.

Glavgosexpertiza is the authority responsible for appraising design documentation and engineering services on behalf of the Ministry of Construction of Russia. It ensures compliance of all major infrastructure construction projects with national technical regulations and statutory requirements.