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Foreign countries taking over USA uranium industry

the disintegration of boundaries in the uranium-mining industry, a trend that has picked up in uranium-rich Utah……..
foreign companies with claims to U.S. minerals pay no royalties under the 1872 Mining Act…….

Russian company may get Utah town and uranium | The Salt Lake Tribune, By JUDY FAHYS  Oct 10, 2010 “…..the town itself, the Shootaring Canyon uranium mill a few miles up the highway, more than 10,000 acres of uranium claims in Utah and holdings in South Dakota, Wyoming and Texas — all of it will be in the portfolio of ARMZ’s parent company, Rosatom, the Russian nuclear agency, which last month provided fuel for Iran’s nuclear power plant….. Continue reading →

October 11, 2010 Posted by | politics international, Uranium, USA | , , , , , | Leave a comment

In situ mining subject to stricter rules and higher fees

New rules take effect for Colorado uranium mines | San Francisco Examiner, Associated Press. 09/30/10 PDTDENVER — New rules for uranium mining in Colorado are now in effect.State lawmakers passed three bills in 2008 that prompted the changes, and the new rules took effect Thursday.The legislation was aimed at protecting groundwater during in-situ uranium mining, which involves injecting a chemical mixture into a site to draw uranium out. The laws also updated mining fees and pushed for disclosure of more information during prospecting activities.Now, all uranium mines must have detailed environmental protection plans. Applicants for in-situ leach uranium mines have to show the technology they want to use has been used before without harming groundwater quality, and they can’t be in violation at another operation. New rules take effect for Colorado uranium mines | San Francisco Examiner

October 1, 2010 Posted by | Legal, Uranium, USA | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Slow progress in cleaning up uranium groundwater contamination

State records and Denver Water testing data indicate the pumping has failed to reduce uranium levels that far exceed drinking-water standards in Ralston Creek, which flows into Denver Water’s Ralston Reservoir.

Cotter Corp. puts a price on clean By Bruce FinleyThe Denver Post, 30 Sept 10, The federal government reimbursed Cotter Corp. nearly $3 million for cleanup of its toxic uranium mill near Cañon City — and could pay $3.3 million more for work in the future. But the work mopping up tailings and contaminated groundwater that began in 1984 is not scheduled to be complete until 2027. Continue reading →

October 1, 2010 Posted by | Uranium, USA, water | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New laser uranium enrichment technology fraught with problems

Regulatory agencies are worried that laser enrichment of uranium could lead to the proliferation of nuclear weapons….GE and Hitachi “are betting that there will be an upsurge of nuclear power plant construction—that’s a huge and extremely risky bet.”….laser enrichment has been held back by substantial technical hurdles.

Laser Uranium Enrichment Makes a Comeback The controversial technology poses proliferation risks, but nuclear firms press on, IEEE Spectrum: By Sandra Upson  1 October 2010 Two technology giants, GE and Hitachi, are betting big on a nuclear renaissance. Continue reading →

October 1, 2010 Posted by | technology, Uranium, USA | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Iran’s uranium enrichment plant the likely target of Stuxnet worm

the worm that has infected Iranian nuclear computers was meant to sabotage the uranium enrichment facility at Natanz –

‘Computer virus in Iran actually targeted larger nuclear facility’ Haaretz Daily Newspaper By Yossi Melman, 28 Sept 10, New analysis, based on the characteristic behavior of the Stuxnet worm, contradicts earlier assessments that the target was the nuclear reactor at Bushehr. Continue reading →

September 28, 2010 Posted by | Iran, secrets,lies and civil liberties, Uranium | , , , , | Leave a comment

AREVA’s chief heads to Niger as uranium mines security deteriorates

The warning said the security situation in the Arlit region — where Areva runs uranium mines and where the five French nationals, a Togolese and a Madagascan were kidnapped by Al-Qaeda linked militants — was deteriorating.

Hostage crisis: French nuclear boss heads to Niger, Google hosted news, (AFP) – 28 Sept 10, PARIS — The chairwoman of French state-owned nuclear giant Areva is to visit the firm’s operation in Niger, the company said Monday, after Al-Qaeda militants kidnapped several of her employees there.”Anne Lauvergeon plans to visit Niger soon,” a spokesman said, declining to confirm a report that she would travel on Thursday. The purpose of her visit is to visit Areva employees in the region, the spokesman said. Continue reading →

September 28, 2010 Posted by | Niger, safety, Uranium | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

German Chancellor Merkel’s nuclear policy likely to be derailed

the German federal government’s own Advisory Council on the Environment  stated that “By 2050, Germany’s energy needs can be supplied 100% through electricity derived from renewable energy sources,” however, “the federal government must set the course for the conversion of the energy system now.”

Germany’s Burgeoning Anti-Nuclear Movement Promises to Derail Merkel’s Energy Policy, THE HUFFUNGTON POST, Tina Gerhardt, 28 Sept 10, Merkel’s decision has reignited Germany’s anti-nuclear movement. A poll conducted last week by ZDF television found sixty-one percent of Germans oppose the plan of Merkel’s center-right coalition of Christian Democrats (CDU) and Free Democrats (FDP). Continue reading →

September 28, 2010 Posted by | Germany, politics, Uranium | , , , | Leave a comment

A solar company investing in nuclear?

The Property consists of two contiguous mineral dispositions, covering an area of ~2000 hectares, in the western Athabasca Basin, 8.3km west of the Cluff Lake Mine and 12.7km northwest of AREVA/UEX’s Shea Creek Project…..The Athabasca Basin is the most productive uranium producing region in the world, producing approximately 1/3 of the world uranium each year.

Solar Energy Options Major Uranium Prospect in the Athabasca Basin – MarketWatch Sept. 27, 2010,   (BUSINESS WIRE) — Solar Energy Limited   is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with an arms’-length vendor by which the Company can earn a 100% interest in the West Carswell Property (the “Property”). Continue reading →

September 28, 2010 Posted by | Canada, secrets,lies and civil liberties, Uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Terrorist danger to France’s uranium mines in Niger

Earlier this year, the US warned that al Qaeda’s interest in nuclear weapons was still strong and said the risk of nuclear terrorism was serious.

France sees second attack on energy workers in West Africa,  Oil & Gas Journal, Sep 27, 2010 By Eric Watkins,“……………The attack on the Bourbon Alexandre came just 6 days after members of the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization captured five French nationals in Niger’s uranium fields. Continue reading →

September 28, 2010 Posted by | Niger, politics international, Uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Yellow Dirt: An American Story of a Poisoned Land and a People Betrayed

Uranium author visits Shiprock, Farmington Daily Times, By Alysa Landry The Daily Times 09/25/2010 SHIPROCK — The book begins much the same as did the betrayal of the Navajo people during the boom of Cold War-era uranium mining — with Anglo men creeping onto its pages like poison.The book is “Yellow Dirt: An American Story of a Poisoned Land and a People Betrayed.“Its author is Judy Pasternak, a former investigative reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Its story, based on two years of research, unfolds with a clarity spared from the Navajo miners who were never told that the “yellow dirt” they mined would be a devastating character in the tale of the Diné people…….

Uranium author visits Shiprock – Farmington Daily Times

September 27, 2010 Posted by | general, Uranium | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Niger getting too dangerous for foreign nuclear companies

Western firms “that steal our wealth and take advantage of our people should know that they are legitimate targets for the mujaheddin and they should leave promptly because our land is not a field for plunder and our wealth is not something to be taken advantage of.”

NIAMEY, Niger, Sept. 24 (UPI) — Suddenly, the uranium mining industry is becoming a risky business, it seems.Islamic militants who kidnapped seven people at a French-owned uranium mine in Niger Sept. 16 have warned Western firms that “steal our wealth … to leave promptly.”… Continue reading →

September 25, 2010 Posted by | Niger, politics international, Uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

AREVA in trouble in Niger: Paladin uranium gets out

Paladin Energy Ltd: Defeating Conditions Triggered Regarding Bid for NGM Resources Ltd – MarketWatch, 25 Sept 10, ”       On September 16, 2010, forces associated with al-Qaida in the Magreb (North Africa) (AQIM) entered the town of Arlit in Niger’s uranium mining region and abducted seven people, employed by the French uranium company Areva and its construction contractor, Vinci. Continue reading →

September 25, 2010 Posted by | Niger, safety, Uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Low uranium price stops building of new plant

R3.5bn uranium project hit by price slump., Brendan Ryan , 22 Sep 2010 [miningmx.com] — CONSTRUCTION of the proposed R3.5bn Rand Uranium plant to be built near Randfontein could be delayed because of current low uranium prices
That’s according to Harmony CEO, Graham Briggs, who was replying to a question posed after his presentation to the Denver Gold Forum being held in Denver, Colorado. Harmony holds a 40% stake in the unlisted Rand Uranium into which it injected assets formerly belonging to the Cooke and Randfontein sections of the Randfontein mine including the high uranium grade Cooke tailings dump. Uranium prices have been depressed for the past 18 months….

September 24, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, South Africa, Uranium | , , , | Leave a comment

AREVA’s nuclear workers kidnapped by al-Qaida in Niger

Six of the seven hostages worked at a huge uranium mine in northern Niger run by French state-owned nuclear power giant Areva. The seventh was married to an Areva employee…….

France’s Sarkozy calls Niger kidnappings worrying By JENNY BARCHFIELD (AP) – 23 Sept 10, PARIS — French President Nicolas Sarkozy vowed on Wednesday to mobilize his government to free five French people abducted last week by an al-Qaida affiliate in Niger, calling it a “very serious and worrying affair,” Continue reading →

September 23, 2010 Posted by | Niger, safety, Uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Uranium market’s doubtful long term future

..“There are a lot of projects on the drawing board that will have trouble getting into production or will be delayed”…The “long-term” price “is really the more important indicator when it comes to supporting new project development, rather than the spot price,”

Uranium Miners Need 25% Price Advance for Expansion Incentive, Rio Says,  Bloomberg, By Anna Stablum – Sep 23, 2010 Uranium must rise 25 percent to give mining companies an incentive to start or expand projects outside of top producer Kazakhstan, said Clark Beyer, managing director of Rio Tinto Uranium Ltd….. Continue reading →

September 23, 2010 Posted by | 2 WORLD, business and costs, Uranium | , , , | Leave a comment