The Finnish Nuclear and Radiation Safety Authority (STUK) approved the reopening of the Terrafame uranium recovery plant , following a series of thorough inspections and review of submitted documentation. According to STUK, the plant complies with established safety requirements, allowing Terrafame to start up operations.
Uranium recovery at Sotkamo mine
With the start of these activities, Finland becomes the only European Union member country to produce uranium, Terrafame noted. Earlier, the Talvivaara Mining Company had begun construction of a uranium mining plant at the uranium extraction plant at the Sotkamo mine at the Sotkamo mine, but declared bankruptcy in 2014.
In October 2017, Terrafame, which owns the mine, applied to the Finnish Ministry of Employment and Economic Affairs for permission for large-scale uranium recovery, having already obtained the necessary chemical and environmental permits. In February 2020, the Finnish government granted this permit, which was ratified as legal by the Supreme Administrative Court in June 2021.
In addition, in December 2017, STUK authorized Terrafame to recover a small amount of uranium to test the chemical processes to be used in the recovery plant. This permit allowed the production of up to 600 liters of process solution with a maximum of 6 kg of uranium.
Uranium production at Terrafame
Terrafame’s production process uses the low concentration of natural uranium present in the ore as a by-product. The recovered uranium will be exported for processing and subsequently used as nuclear fuel. The plant is expected to operate at full capacity in 2026, producing approximately 200 tons of uranium per year, enough to cover nine months of consumption of the Olkiluoto 3 EPR plant.
Terrafame anticipates that uranium production will increase its annual net sales by approximately EUR 30 to 40 million, depending on the market price of uranium, although this will represent a small fraction of the company’s total sales in the coming years.
Terrafame CEO Seppo Voutilainen noted that the use of natural uranium for energy production contributes to climate goals and strengthens Europe’s energy self-sufficiency. Thanks to its modern production process, the company is able to recover additional metals in a cost-effective manner.
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Source and photo: Terrafarme
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