Uranium Raw Material for the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Exploration, Mining, Production, Supply and Demand, Economics and Environmental Issues (URAM-2014). Summary of an International Symposium

This International Symposium on Uranium Raw Material for the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Exploration, Mining, Production, Supply and Demand, Economics and Environmental Issues (URAM-2014) was the fourth in a series of symposia to discuss issues related to uranium raw materials. These symposia covered all areas of the uranium production cycle — including uranium geology, exploration and mining; milling and refining of uranium concentrates; and safety, environmental, social, training and regulatory issues — and reported on uranium supply and demand, and market scenarios. The first symposium was held in October 2000, at a time of extremely depressed market prices for uranium and of mines being closed, and primarily addressed environmental and safety issues in the uranium production cycle. By the time the second symposium was held in June 2005, after nearly two decades of depressed activity, the uranium market had started to improve owing to increased demand due to rising expectations of an expansion of nuclear power. Thereafter, a dramatic rise in the uranium spot price, peaking in 2007, promoted a significant increase in uranium exploration activities all over the world. The uranium industry was still quite buoyant at the time of the third symposium in the series, held in June 2009. By the time URAM-2014 was organized, the uranium spot price had fallen and uranium exploration had slowed. Some proposed mines were still being opened while the development of others was being postponed. Thus, the papers represent yet another snapshot in time, reflecting the cyclical nature of the uranium exploration, mining and production industry. URAM-2014, held in Vienna on 23–27 June 2014, saw the participation of over 250 experts from over 60 Member States. About 90 oral presentations spread over 14 topical sessions covered all aspects of uranium production cycle, with additional special sessions on uranium from unconventional resources and recovery of thorium and rare earths. About 80 posters were also presented. Even though uranium markets were down to a ten year low at the time of the symposium, the meeting demonstrated that the uranium industry was taking the lead in developing innovative exploration and production solutions expected to keep the costs low while achieving high health, safety and environmental performance. New initiatives like innovative financing, 'smart mines', integrated exploration and 'wealth from wastes' were discussed extensively at the symposium. Other issues discussed included the need for priority attention to social licensing and stakeholder engagement; systematic and ongoing investment in uranium exploration; the rollout of new technologies across the uranium production life cycle; the need to focus on sustainable recovery of low cost resources; mobilization of scientific and intellectual capital; and the refined taxonomic classification and reporting systems. The present publication constitutes the record of the symposium and includes the summaries of the individual sessions, the opening address, a summary of the panel discussion, the closing keynote addresses and the symposium president's concluding remarks. The technical papers based on the oral and poster papers are available on the accompanying CD-ROM.