Boost in Russian uranium reserves

Russia's reserves of uranium increased by some 70,000 tonnes in 2009, the Itar-Tass news agency reported. Total reserves in the state registers stands at 535,000 tonnes, while estimated resources total about 800,000 tonnes, according to Vladimir Bavlov, director of the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources (Rosnedra). He noted that exploration in the Urals and the Republic of Kalmykia produced encouraging results. Bavlov said that in 2010 a number of uranium-bearing deposits - including some in the East Siberian region of Yakutia-Sakha - will be licensed. Rosnedra finances uranium exploration and prospecting from the state budget. As of 1 January 2007, Russia had known uranium resources (reasonably assured plus inferred resources up to $130/kg) of 546,000 tonnes, according to Uranium 2007: Resources, Production and Demand - often known as the Red Book - published every two years by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Russia produced 3521 tonnes of uranium in 2008.