International Symposium on Uranium Raw Material for the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Exploration, Mining, Production, Supply and Demand, Economics and Environmental Issues (URAM-2018)

Central Jordan Uranium Project: Monitoring the Project Maturity via the application of the UNFC-2009

28 Jun 2018, 14:20

20m

Vienna

ORAL Track 5. Economic evaluations of uranium projects Economic Evaluation of Uranium Projects

Speaker

Dr Hussein ALLABOUN (Jordanian Uranium Mining Company and Jordan University of Science and Technology)

Description

The uranium deposits in the CJUP are primarily hosted by the Muaqar Chalky Marl (MCM) Formation of upper Maastrichtian age, part of the Upper Cretaceous to lower Tertiary Belqa Group. Uranium exploration and resource estimation were performed over two phases in this project, Phase I (2009-2014) and Phase II (201). Metallurgical testwork indicated the amenability of the ore to static leaching using alkaline lixiviants. Higher level process development and engineering endeavors are currently culminating into the construction of a processing pilot plant. This case study demonstrates the advantages of using UNFC-2009 to monitor the project maturity of CJUP over different phases of exploration and technical viability. The project progressed from a “Potentially Commercial Projects/Development on Hold” project in Phase I to a more mature “Potentially Commercial Projects/Development Pending” in Phase II. The application of UNFC-2009 to the CJUP study in Jordan clearly demonstrates the advantage of tracking the project from a lower maturity level of assessment to a higher level. Therefore, classification and reporting of uranium project results using UNFC-2009 have clear advantages for policy makers in Jordan, as well as for internal company requirements for monitoring the progress of a project over time.