Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom in 2015 increased uranium production in Russia by 2%, to 3.055mt, according to preliminary data from Atomredmetzoloto (ARMZ) Uranium Holding.
This compares with 2,991mt in 2014. A spokesman said the cost of production had decreased by 11% compared with 2014. Russia's largest uranium mining company, part of ARMZ, Priagunsky Industrial Mining and Chemical Union (Pimcu) in Krasnokamensk Trans-Baikal Territory, expects 2015 production of natural uranium concentrate in 2015 to total 1,977t (7t up on 2014).
Stock company ARMZ Dalur (Kurgan Region) in 2015 produced over 590t of uranium, exceeding 2014 figures by more than 2% while ARMZ Khiagda in 2015 expects to produce 488t (up almost 46t on 2014).
Meanwhile, earlier in January, Russian state-run geological exploration services company Rosgeologia identified "promising" uranium deposits in the North-West Federal District following a survey of the Kuol-Panayarvinskaya area on the border of the Murmansk region and the Republic of Karelia. "Complex geological and geophysical interpretation of the data highlighted two areas of potentially promising uranium ore mineralization," Rosgeologia said. "The results recommend further geological studies within the area."
The study was commissioned by the AP Karpinsky Russian Geological Research Institute (VSEGEI) under a contract signed last July. It was carried out by Rosgeologia subsidiary Alexandrovskaya Experimental Methodological Expedition, which conducts geological, geochemical, and geophysical surveys to different scales, and prospects for solid minerals in various regions across Russia. Rosgeologia was stablished in July 2011 by presidential decree and comprises 38 enterprises located in 30 regions across Russia. Its assets include major hydrocarbon and solid mineral deposits and fields.
