, um nicht nur am Tropf der Kazachen zu hängen
der war gut
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nur mal ein teil der beteiligungen
| Company | Country | Mine | Equity % | Start production with China equity |
| CNUC | Niger | Azelik | 37.2 + 24.8 ZXJOY | 2010 but now closed |
| Niger | Imouraren | 25+, more pending | On hold | |
| Namibia | Langer Heinrich | 25+, more pending | 2014 | |
| Namibia | Rössing | 68.6 | 2019 | |
| Kazakhstan | Zhalpak | 49? | 2017? | |
| CGN-URC | Namibia | Husab | 90 | 2016 |
| Kazakhstan | Irkol & Semizbai | 49 | 2008, 2009 | |
| Uzbekistan | Boztau black shales | 50 | Uncertain | |
| Canada | Patterson Lake | 19.99 | 2023 |
etwas outtated, mittlerweile noch viel agressiver
CNNC Projects
Since the establishment of SinoU in 2006, the firm has acquired 15 uranium-prospecting permits
in Niger, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Mongolia; the total area prospected is 8,265 square kilome-
ters.59 By the end of 2009, the leadership of CNNC announced that it had already secured over
200 ktU of foreign resources. However, CNNC did not disclose further details. In the following,
based on available information, we have tried to estimate how much foreign uranium resources
CNNC could have locked in for the China market.
Gurvanbulag/Mongolia: In March 2009, CNNC International, a 70% subsidiary of CNNC
Overseas Uranium Holding Ltd. and through it, of SinoU, successfully acquired 69% of the
ordinary shares of Western Prospector Group Ltd. (which was then listed in Canada). On June
14, 2009, it bought out all the shares of the company and acquired the eighteen mining licenses
previously owned by Western Prospector, including those pertaining to the Gurvanbulag uranium
mine in Mongolia, which is very close to the Chinese border. It is estimated that there are 8,580
tU (with an average grade of 0.18%) identified in Gurvanbulag mine, and 11,000 tU of inferred
resources (with an average grade of 0.11%).67 This project requires extensive geological work;
the uranium deposit is fairly large, the uranium ore is relatively high-grade, and there is a reliable
amount of resources. It is expected to yield 600 tU/year within three years once a mining permit
is issued. In 2010, CNNC and the Nuclear Energy Agency of Mongolia signed a memorandum
of cooperation in the area of uranium resources and nuclear energy. On June 26, 2012, CNNC
Mongolia Project Co. and the Nuclear Energy Agency of Mongolia signed an Agreement for
Gurvanbulag Uranium Mine Early-Stage Mining Work. In 2014, a CNNC assessment report on
the economic and technical feasibility of the project was approved, providing the basis for a min-
ing rights permit.68
Mongolia is well-endowed with uranium resources. Based on the 2014 Red Book, as of January
1, 2013, recoverable uranium resources in Mongolia attributable to the identified resources cat-
egory amounted to 141,521 tU. It is reported that as of 2014 China had already secured uranium
resources in the country of up to 10 ktU.69 China hopes to lock up more uranium resources in
Mongolia.
Kanyeba/Zimbawe: CNNC has been actively exploring for uranium at the deposits found in the
Kanyemba district, which is about 150 miles (241 kilometers) north of Harare, Zimbabwe. The
Kanyemba project is operated by Afri-Sino Mining Resources Ltd., 42% of which is owned by
CNNC. Another Chinese company owns 28%, while 30% is owned by a local company.66 CNNC
was the partner which received a permit to conduct exploration work. Initial work has indicated a
huge uranium potential. It is estimated that the Kanyemba deposit could hold more than 45 ktU.
We assume China could access all of that amount.
CGN Projects
Since 2006, a CGN subsidiary, CGN Uranium Resources Co. Ltd. (CGN-URC), has been active-
ly exploring for and mining uranium in countries such as Kazakhstan, Namibia, Australia, and
Uzbekistan. Consequently, in 2013, the head of CGN stated that the firm had secured approxi-
mately 308,000 tonnes of overseas natural uranium resources by the end of 2012.
CGN-URC experts have revealed that CGN’s criteria for the selection of projects include: re-
gional diversification (i.e., distribution across Africa, Central Asia, Australia, etc.); a stable
and positive political and business environment (i.e., a stable government, no terrorist threat, a
government supportive of uranium mining); rational return on investment (i.e., low costs); and
controllable risk exposure. The firm is also cautious about involvement in grassroots projects
with high risk.7
Energy Metals/Australia: On September 8, 2009, through an investment vehicle, China Ura-
nium Development Co. Ltd., CGN-URC initiated the acquisition of an Australian uranium
exploration company, Energy Metals Ltd., spending US$72.10 million to acquire 70% of the
shares of the firm. Energy Metals has nine uranium projects. At the moment, a key project is the
Bigrlyi sandstone uranium deposit prospecting project in Australia’s Northern Territory. The head
of Energy Metals states that the firm controls a total of about 18.8 kt of U3O8 (around 16 ktU)
through five projects including the Bigrlyi project.81 Here, we assume 16 ktU would be available
to China.
Others[stand ende 2015!]: It has been reported that CNNC and CGN have also been interested in other countries’
uranium resources. In November 2007, CGN signed an agreement with AREVA to take a 24.5%
equity stake in its UraMin subsidiary (now AREVA Resources Southern Africa), In October
2008, AREVA announced that a further 24.5% would be taken up by other “Chinese sovereign
funds.” UraMin was proposing mines in Namibia, South Africa, and the Central African Repub-
lic. China agreed to buy more than half of the uranium from UraMin over the lifetime of its three
deposits–a total amount of over 40 ktU through 2022.85 If the deal comes to fruition, CGN would
obtain around 20 ktU from these deposits. However, the future of the deal is not clear.
Consequently, as summarized in Table 4.5, we estimate that CGN has possible foreign uranium
resources of about 310 ktU, which is close to the 308 ktU announced in a CGN statement.86 If we
assume all these resources are in situ, and assume a recovery rate of 80%, recoverable uranium
resources would total 250 ktU.
Thus, CNNC and CGN would have a total of about 400 kt recovered uranium resources available
for the plan period through overseas exploration and mining. However, it should be noted that
all estimates could be adjusted to acknowledge new developments and new accurate information
as it becomes available. It is more likely to be higher than the given figure due to reserve growth
effects – once recovery starts at a mine, more resources are usually found there. Moreover, be-
tween now and 2050, it may well be possible for China to enter into additional agreements that
would secure still more resources.
auf die sinosteel project beteiligungen habe ich leider gerade keinen zugriff.
bg bh