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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
China advances energy security with first output from major uranium project
China has produced its first barrel of natural uranium from its largest domestic project, dubbed the 'National No 1 Uranium' demonstration project, according to an announcement by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). Launched last year in the Ordos basin of northern Inner Mongolia, this project is located in a region known for containing the country's most significant natural uranium reserves. State news agency Xinhua reported that the milestone demonstrates a "green, safe, intelligent and efficient" mining approach. The breakthrough is expected to enhance China's competitiveness in uranium production, supporting its push for greater energy security and contributing to its broader green transition goals in the nuclear power sector. For the first time, China is shifting its uranium production hub from the central Jiangxi province to the country's northern regions. Historically, uranium mining centered on volcanic and granite deposits near Lean in Jiangxi, but over the past two decades, large sandstone-type uranium deposits have been discovered in northern China, particularly in Inner Mongolia. These deposits were once dismissed as 'dull mines' with no economic potential due to technical limitations. However, current advanced in situ leaching technology has made it possible to overcome these challenges, turning previously inaccessible resources into viable supplies for China's nuclear energy needs, the South China Morning Post reported. Yuan Xu, chairman of China National Uranium Corporation, a subsidiary of CNNC, said the project represents a new era for uranium mining in the country. He explained that it incorporates modern practices, such as rigorous environmental protection measures, remote-controlled machinery to reduce risks for workers, intelligent data analysis to guide operations, and process improvements aimed at boosting both quality and efficiency. According to reports in the Chinese media, the project was built in record time, taking only one year from groundbreaking to completion. In 2023, China announced 10 major uranium discoveries with estimated resources of over 2.8 million tonnes, six of which are located in Inner Mongolia. Unlike the sandstone deposits in the north, uranium reserves in Jiangxi are richer but embedded in granite, requiring traditional mining and processing methods. In contrast, sandstone deposits typically contain lower and more dispersed uranium concentrations, which made extraction uneconomical with older technologies. Experts from the China National Uranium Corporation compared in situ leaching to an intravenous drip, explaining that a solution is injected into the underground ore bed through wells, dissolving the uranium directly, and the uranium-rich liquid is then pumped to the surface for processing. Traditional acid or alkali leaching methods caused significant environmental damage, but this new approach uses an aqueous carbon dioxide-oxygen solution, which greatly reduces harm. Experts emphasized that the process involves no tunneling, causes no ecological damage, and produces no radioactive waste discharge. According to the China Energy Research Society, China ranks first in the world for total nuclear power generation capacity, including units operating, under construction, or officially approved.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Will China's ‘no tunnel, no toxic waste' uranium mine be a nuclear energy game changer?
China has made a breakthrough in uranium mining and processing by unlocking complex sandstone deposits once seen as too challenging to develop, as Beijing ramps up efforts towards a green transition and energy security. The country's largest natural uranium project had yielded its first barrel, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced on Saturday. The 'National No 1 Uranium' demonstration project was launched a year ago in the Ordos basin of northern Inner Mongolia, home to China's largest natural uranium deposits. State news agency Xinhua said the successful mining marked a 'green, safe, intelligent and efficient' approach that would boost China's competitiveness in the natural uranium sector. It also signifies a shift in China's uranium production centre, from central Jiangxi province to the north. While uranium mining in China has traditionally focused on volcanic and granite deposits around Lean in Jiangxi province, sandstone-type uranium deposits have been uncovered over the past two decades in northern China, particularly Inner Mongolia.
Observer
19-06-2025
- Business
- Observer
Putin hosts Indonesia's Prabowo in Russia in bid to deepen ties
ST PETERSBURG: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto held talks with President Vladimir Putin in the northern Russian city of St Petersburg on Thursday as they explore ways to deepen what some officials have called a burgeoning strategic partnership. The deepening of ties between Russia and Indonesia, part of Moscow's bid to forge new relations with the Global South amid Western attempts to isolate it over the Ukraine war, has perturbed some powers such as Australia. Meeting in the Constantine Palace, Putin noted Indonesia's entry into BRICS as a full member and said he was sure it would make a significant contribution to the grouping, which he said was gaining clout in the world. Prabowo thanked Putin for his support over Indonesia's entry to BRICS and said that ties between the two countries were improving. Russia and Indonesia's foreign ministers, Sergei Lavrov and Sugiono, speaking in Moscow earlier this week, mentioned a possible strategic partnership between the two countries. Russia has proposed deepening military, security, trade and nuclear ties with Indonesia, which has the world's fourth largest population. Prabowo previously visited Russia in August 2024, when he was defence minister and president-elect, and described Moscow as a "great friend", saying he hoped for stronger cooperation on defence, energy and education. Indonesia has said that it wants to build its first nuclear power plant by 2032, with 500 MW capacity, aiming for it to come online in the next decade. Authorities said interested developers included Russia's Rosatom, China CNNC and US small modular reactor producer NuScale. Indonesia, Southeast Asia's biggest economy, currently relies mostly on coal as a source of power despite boasting massive potential for renewable energy sources such as hydro, solar and geothermal. With expectations of high energy demand in the future, Indonesia is seeking to boost power generation capacity while capping its carbon emissions, eyeing nuclear power as the solution. Prabowo has maintained Indonesia's non-aligned foreign policy, vowing to befriend any country, including Russia and the United States. He has said Indonesia will not be joining any military bloc. China is Indonesia's largest trading partner, but recently Prabowo's government announced a raft of concessions for trade with the US as it looks to neutralise the effect of tariffs. Russia has praised what it says is Indonesia's balanced position on the Ukraine war. Russia and Indonesia conducted their first joint naval exercises in the Java Sea last November. — Reuters
Straits Times
19-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Putin hosts Indonesia's Prabowo in Russia in bid to deepen ties
ST PETERSBURG, Russia - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto held talks with President Vladimir Putin in the northern Russian city of St Petersburg on Thursday as they explore ways to deepen what some officials have called a burgeoning strategic partnership. The deepening of ties between Russia and Indonesia, part of Moscow's bid to forge new relations with the Global South amid Western attempts to isolate it over the Ukraine war, has perturbed some powers such as Australia. Meeting in the Constantine Palace, Putin noted Indonesia's entry into BRICS as a full member and said he was sure it would make a significant contribution to the grouping, which he said was gaining clout in the world. Prabowo thanked Putin for his support over Indonesia's entry to BRICS and said that ties between the two countries were improving. Russia and Indonesia's foreign ministers, Sergei Lavrov and Sugiono, speaking in Moscow earlier this week, mentioned a possible strategic partnership between the two countries. Russia has proposed deepening military, security, trade and nuclear ties with Indonesia, which has the world's fourth largest population. Prabowo previously visited Russia in August 2024, when he was defence minister and president-elect, and described Moscow as a "great friend", saying he hoped for stronger cooperation on defence, energy and education. Indonesia has said that it wants to build its first nuclear power plant by 2032, with 500 MW capacity, aiming for it to come online in the next decade. Authorities said interested developers included Russia's Rosatom, China CNNC, and U.S. small modular reactor producer NuScale. Indonesia, Southeast Asia's biggest economy, currently relies mostly on coal as a source of power despite boasting massive potential for renewable energy sources such as hydro, solar and geothermal. With expectations of high energy demand in the future, Indonesia is seeking to boost power generation capacity while capping its carbon emissions, eyeing nuclear power as the solution. Prabowo has maintained Indonesia's non-aligned foreign policy, vowing to befriend any country, including Russia and the United States. He has said Indonesia will not be joining any military bloc. China is Indonesia's largest trading partner, but recently Prabowo's government announced a raft of concessions for trade with the U.S. as it looks to neutralise the effect of tariffs. Russia has praised what it says is Indonesia's balanced position on the Ukraine war. Russia and Indonesia conducted their first joint naval exercises in the Java Sea last November. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Euronews
16-06-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Rosatom and CNNC to spearhead Kazakhstan's nuclear return
Kazakhstan has chosen Russia's state nuclear firm Rosatom and China's National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) to lead separate consortiums to build its first nuclear power plants. This marks the country's return to nuclear energy, as Kazakhstan has had no nuclear power facilities of its own since 1999 when its Soviet-era reactor was shut down. In a national referendum last October, nearly 70% of Kazakh voters approved constructing nuclear power facilities, a move strongly backed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Kazakhstan, one of the world's top uranium producers, currently relies mostly on coal-fired plants for power, alongside hydropower and a growing renewables sector. The nuclear project is seen as key to reducing heavy coal dependence and meeting future energy demand in an environmentally sustainable way. The nuclear project is seen as key to reducing heavy coal dependence and meeting future energy demand in an environmentally sustainable way. It will feature two Russian VVER-1200 Generation 3+ reactors. Rosatom's CEO Alexei Likhachev welcomed the decision, saying the plant will use "the most advanced and efficient design in the world." This flagship project of Kazakhstan's first commercial nuclear power station is expected to significantly improve domestic power supply and create thousands of jobs during construction and operation. It also restores nuclear generation in Kazakhstan after a 26-year pause since the BN-350 reactor's closure. Kazakhstan is adopting an "international consortium" approach, inviting multiple foreign partners to participate in its nuclear program in order to balance strategic relationships. While Rosatom will lead the first plant's consortium, officials say China's CNNC is slated to head a second nuclear plant project under a separate agreement. "China definitely has all the necessary technologies and a full industrial base, so our next priority is cooperation with China," said Almasadam Satqaliev, chairman of Kazakhstan's atomic agency. The second plant's details including its site, reactor design and timeline have yet to be clarified, but the inclusion of CNNC underscores Kazakhstan's effort to engage both of its powerful neighbours in its energy ambitions. Kazakhstan's push for nuclear energy comes amid rising electricity demand and frequent power shortages in parts of the country. The government argues that atomic power will strengthen energy security and help cut carbon emissions, leveraging Kazakhstan's abundant uranium resources for domestic benefit. "To not remain on the sidelines of global progress, we must use our competitive advantages," President Tokayev said ahead of the nuclear referendum, pointing to the country's uranium as a logical asset for power generation. At the same time, the nuclear projects highlight Kazakhstan's careful geopolitical balancing act. The decision to involve both Moscow and Beijing aligns with Astana's broader strategy of maintaining strong ties with its former Soviet patron and its giant eastern neighbour. By sharing its nuclear program between Rosatom and CNNC, Kazakhstan can reassure both Moscow and Beijing of partnership, while also diversifying its technological and financial support.
