Production and processing of uranium ore in Ukraine

Puhalskiy V.N., Sinchuk V.V., Basarab N.N.

Authors:

Puhalskiy V.N., Ph. D. (Tech.) (Western Mining and Processing Plant)
Sinchuk V.V., M.S. (Tech) (Western Mining and Processing Plant)
Basarab N.N., M.S. (Tech) (Western Mining and Processing Plant)

UDC 621.002.5-752

Language: Russian

Abstract.

The growth rate of the world economy is inextricably linked with the development of energy industries. According to the International Energy Agency, world energy consumption will increase by one third in the near future; the deficit will be also covered through the development of nuclear energy. To date, the nuclear industry is the only steadily developing industry that successfully competes with traditional sources of energy, such as oil, gas, coal, etc.

To date, there are 15 nuclear power units operating in Ukraine with a total capacity of more than 15 million kW, which is almost half of the country’s total electricity. Ukraine is provided with sufficient supplies of raw materials and is among the world’s top ten producers of uranium. The extraction of uranium ore in Ukraine began in 1946 at the Zheltorechensk and Pervomaisk deposits; since 1951, all work was performed by the plant No. 9 (currently the State Enterprise «Eastern Mining and Processing Plant», the city of Zhovti Vody). The state Enterprise «VostGOK» is the only enterprise that produces and processes uranium ore, and produce natural uranium concentrate, which meets the requirements of the world standards. Mining of uranium ore is carried out in the Novokonstantinovskaya, Smolinskaya and Ingul’skaya mines. For the 65-year history of mining of uranium ores, the following technologies were developed and introduced for the first time in the world and in the USSR: acidic leaching; sorption of uranium from dense pulp in pachucas; underground cyclic-flow technology of vibrational release and delivery of ore; heap leaching; block leaching; processing of waste rock dumps and off-balance ores, etc.

Keywords:

uranium ore, nuclear power, the world economy, nuclear power units

References:

1. World Energy Outlook 2015, International Energy Agency, Paris, France.

1. Red Book «Uranium 2014: Resources, Production and Demand», Nuclear Energy Agency, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France.

2. World Nuclear Association (2016), available at: www.world-nuclear.org.

3. GP NAEK «Energoatom» (2016), available at: www.energoatom.kiev.ua.

About the authors:

Pukhalsky Viktor Nikolaevich, Candidate of Technical Sciences (Ph. D.), Chief Engineer in Eastern Mining and Processing Plant, Zhovti Vody, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sinchuk Vasiliy Vasiliyevich, engineer, Chief geologist in Eastern Mining and Processing Plant, Zhovti Vody, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Basarab Nikolay Nikolayevich, engineer, engineer of marketing group in Eastern Mining and Processing Plant, Zhovti Vody, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.