Issues in Developing a New Uranium Mine in Canada

Transcription

1 Issues in Developing a New Uranium Mine in Canada Grant Feasby Douglas Chambers June 25, 2009 URAM

2 SENES Consultants Specialists in Energy, Nuclear and Environmental Sciences U resource and associated radioactivity projects for ~ 30 years All Canadian U mine projects, many in other countries Industry, governments, NGO s June 25, 2009 URAM

3 Global U Production (10 3 t U) Canada currently largest U producer Total Global U Prod: 49,000 t (2009) Demand: 74,000 (2015) 0 Can Kaz Aus Nam Rus Nig Uzb USA Others June 25, 2009 URAM

4 Uranium Canada YUKON NORTHWEST TERRITORIES Port Radium NUNAVIT BRITISH COLUMBIA LABRADOR NEWFOUNDLAND ALBERTA MANITOBA QUEBEC P.E.I. SASKATCHEWAN ONTARIO NEW BRUNSWICK NOVA SCOTIA Port Hope June 25, 2009 URAM

5 Port Radium then and now June 25, 2009 URAM

6 Port Hope: Ra refinery UO 2 & UF 6 conversion June 25, 2009 URAM

7 In 50 years.. Cluff Lake Cigar lake Key Lake McClean Lake Rabbit Lake McArthur River YUKON NORTHWEST TERRITORIES NUNAVIT BRITISH COLUMBIA Beaverlodge (>10) LABRADOR NEWFOUNDLAND ALBERTA MANITOBA SASKATCHEWAN ONTARIO Elliot Lake (13) QUEBEC NEW BRUNSWICK Bancroft (3) P.E.I. NOVA SCOTIA SASKATCHEWAN June 25, 2009 URAM

8 Exploring for Uranium June 25, 2009 URAM

9 Exploration Targets in Canada Courtesy AREVA June 25, 2009 URAM ELLIOT LAKE

10 New Canadian Mines Cigar Lake prod n in 2011 Discovered % U 230 million lbs U 3 O 8 Other properties in EA process Midwest - 4.6%U Millenium 3.8%U Kiggavik 0.23%U Other low grade properties June 25, 2009 URAM

11 Impediments to U Mine Development in Canada 1. High Capital and Operating Costs Geology - high grade deposits in poor ground Remote locations 2. Very long lead times 3. Tightening performance expectations 4. Practices for high grade: challenging for lower grade 5. Withholding of social and political licenses June 25, 2009 URAM

12 Fast Track - U Project Licensing Community Consultations Social License Scoping Feasibility Engineering Purchasing Registration Env. Assess License to Construct License to Operate Road and port Construction Operations +ve decision June 25, 2009 URAM

13 Key Reasons for Long Lead Multiple jurisdictions Times in Canada Federal regulation; provincial/territorial, local, first nations approvals Sequential decision and licensing steps Economic impacts Time to build experience and credibility by new players June 25, 2009 URAM

14 Appropriate Technologies for High Grade Mines Remote mining methods In pit disposal of mineralised waste rock and tailings June 25, 2009 URAM

15 In-pit Tailings Disposal Diffusion Barrier Challenging for low grade Consolidated Tails June 25, 2009 URAM

16 Social License Restrictions U in Canada Provinces, part 1 Territory moratoria 3 Provinces protest hindered exploration 1 Province industry wary Province of Saskatchewan steady progress Nunavut Territory cautious progress June 25, 2009 URAM

17 Public Opposition to U Resource Development Typically locally based with national, and international support Effective exploitation of public fear of exposure to radioactivity Filtered images and info Public rallies with children and cancer allegations Well spoken advocates (a.k.a. experts ) June 25, 2009 URAM

18 Photo "Evidence of Danger June 25, 2009 URAM

19 Exploitation of Fear of Radioactivity an expanding activity Issues: Historical miners info Old spills Clouds of radon No safe level of exposure TMI, Chernobyl Spent Fuel & Weapons DU All uranium ends up as Nuclear weapons, Plutonium, Radioactive waste, or Depleted U CCNR 2007 Uranium Mill Tailings Hazards Radon exhalation Gamma radiation Dust blowing (radium, arsenic,...) Tailings Groundwater June 25, 2009 URAM

20 Exaggerations re radioactivity Uranium Radium 226 Radon 222 Polonium 210 each tonne of U extracted, Po 210 = 18 tonnes HCN - CCNR, 2008 Litvinenko 2006 June 25, 2009 URAM

21 Evidence: Doses at and Near U Facilities are Very Low Source Conventional Mine and Mill In Situ Leaching Surface Workers Annual Dose (msv/a) Notes NUREG 0706 and Chambers et. al, 1989 Average of airborne releases for 3 nearest residences, NUREG 1508 Canadian Data Natural Background 3 2 U.S. average (NCRP 1987) Canada average June 25, 2009 URAM

22 Public Doses From U Mining and Milling in Canada Public Dose Limit Annual Dose (msv) Adult Child 0 Nearest Village Area Trapper Fishing Lodge Operator On-Site Cook June 25, 2009 URAM

23 Average Annual Radiation Doses to Canadian Uranium Mine 50 Workers Average Dose (msv/y) Single Year Dose Limit Dose Limit (5 Year Average) Mill Workers Surface Miners Underground Miners Year Note: Monitoring data from Health Canada National Dosimetry Services June 25, 2009 URAM

24 Trend in U Resource Development Canada USA High Grade Resources ISL Resources Australia Byproduct and ISL Kazakhstan Niger ISL Expansion Low Grade Resource Namibia Very Low Grade Resource June 25, 2009 URAM

25 Why Protests Effective Radioactivity easy to exploit Protest methods/linkages New media, blogs, personalities.. Native peoples issues Poor image of mining Poor general understanding of risk Political and regulatory support typically weak Absence of credible, independent spokespersons who can inform public June 25, 2009 URAM

26 Other factors Culture of Individuality: experts not to be trusted e.g. intelligent design, 9/11 conspiracies, Da Vinci Code Counter Knowledge Entrepreneurs.. persons who may or may not believe their claims, but have an instinctive understanding how social epidemics work Thompson 2008 June 25, 2009 URAM

27 Brickbats Bouquets Speculative exploration in sensitive and populated areas results in widespread, sustained opposition Political activism Weak political support for NP on the global climate change issue 80% of Saskatchewan residents support U mining After firmly rejecting U mining 25 years ago, Inuit people now supporting responsible development June 25, 2009 URAM

28 Recent Social Licensing Success 1. Extensive consultations with local people 2. Experts who can explain risks 3. Involvement of citizens from U producing areas 4. Visits to operating facilities 5. Patience: adequate time, financial and personnel resources by proponent June 25, 2009 URAM

29 Crystal Ball Uranium production will match demand Local people will accept responsible development Success in Arctic Streamlining of the approvals process (?) Hard won support for expansion of U mining and electricity from nuclear energy June 25, 2009 URAM

30 Thank You June 25, 2009 URAM