Russia to increase uranium production

In the next 10 to 12 years, Russia is planning to increase uranium production to 17,000 tons, First Deputy Atomic Minister of Russia Mikhail Solonin stated at a round-table meeting at the Russian Federation Council today. According to him, currently Russia produces about 13,000 tons of natural uranium per year. The country annually exports about 10,100 tons of natural uranium; Russian nuclear power plants use 6,800 tons of uranium per year. Solonin also pointed out that the total explored reserves of uranium in Russia amounted to 165,000 tons to date. According to the senior official, their prime cost is less than $80 per kilogram, including 56,000 tons with prime cost less than $40 per kilogram.

According to the data of the Atomic Ministry, the total amount of explored reserves of uranium in the world is 3.5 million tons. Every year 32,000 to 37,000 tons of natural uranium are produced around the planet. The most considerable uranium reserves are in Australia, Kazakhstan and Canada. Russia is the seventh country in the world regarding its volume of uranium reserves.