AP26103735 – Increasing the efficiency of underground borehole leaching of uranium using oxidizing reagents in the form of liquid oxygen and ozone

Objective of the project – The relevance of the project is driven by the need to increase the efficiency of uranium production in Kazakhstan — a global leader in production — to ensure the sustainable development of nuclear energy and the country’s energy independence. In conditions of sulfuric acid shortage, used in in-situ leaching, the uranium recovery rate decreases, leading to longer field development periods and higher capital expenditures.

The project aims to develop and apply an oxidative solution containing liquid oxygen and ozone, capable of increasing natural uranium recovery, reducing reagent consumption, and shortening the development period of deposits. This will lower the cost of uranium production and enhance the efficiency of Kazakhstan’s nuclear energy sector.

Relevance: The objective of the project is to increase the degree of uranium extraction using liquid oxygen and ozone oxidizers in uranium mining by in-situ leaching, thereby increasing the efficiency of in-situ leaching of uranium.

With an increase in the degree of uranium extraction, the period of development of the uranium deposit is reduced, thereby reducing the costs of reagents, labour, production maintenance and capital expenditures for uranium mining by in-situ leaching.

Scientific supervisor: Khayrullaev Nursultan Batyrkhanovich, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Mining, Research Professor

Expected and achieved results: 1) Publications in foreign peer-reviewed scientific journals:

- at least 3 (three) articles and (or) reviews in peer-reviewed scientific publications indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded of the Web of Science database and (or) having a CiteScore percentile in the Scopus database of at least 50 (fifty);

- at least 1 patent for an invention (including a positive decision on it);

- or at least 1 (one) article or review in a peer-reviewed scientific publication indexed in Science Citation Index Expanded and included in the 1 (first) quartile by impact factor in the Web of Science database and (or) having a CiteScore percentile in the Scopus database of at least 80 (eighty);

- at least 1 patent for an invention (including a positive decision on it).

2) publication of monographs, books and (or) chapters in books by foreign and (or) Kazakhstani publishers - not planned;

3) obtaining patents in foreign patent offices (European, American, Japanese), in Kazakhstani or Eurasian patent offices - it is planned to obtain 1 patent;

4) development of scientific, technical, and design documentation - it is planned to develop a methodology for applying the technology and a diagram for connecting an oxidizing solution to the line of injection wells;

5) dissemination of the results of the work among potential users, the scientific community and the general public - the results of the project will be disseminated among potential users, the scientific community and the general public through reports at conferences, exhibitions, forums and publications in domestic and foreign publications;

6) other measurable results in accordance with the requirements of the tender documentation and the specifics of the project. Additionally, the following shall be indicated in the section:

1) the scope of application and target consumers of each of the expected results - mining and metallurgical companies extracting and processing uranium ore using underground well leaching, NAC KazAtomProm, State Corporation RosAtom, Katko Joint Venture LLC, UGKHK Joint Venture LLC, Ortalyk Joint Venture LLC, Kyzylkum Joint Venture LLC.

2 - the implementation of this project will give impetus to the development of science and technology in the field of underground borehole leaching of uranium, will increase the degree of uranium extraction by 10 - 15%, which entails a reduction in the time of deposit development and a reduction in capital costs, thereby reducing the price of the final product.

3) - the results of the project have commercial potential and will be presented to organizations for the extraction and processing of uranium. After the completion of this scientific project, it is planned to submit an application for R&D at the Mynkudyk uranium deposit; 4) social, economic, environmental, scientific and technical, multiplicative and (or) other effect of the project results with justification, including the solution of existing problems in the regions of the country - according to the results of the scientific project, it will be possible to increase the degree of uranium extraction by 10 - 15%, thereby reducing the costs of uranium mining, which will lead to a decrease in the cost of uranium. This technology for increasing efficiency will be used at uranium deposits in Kazakhstan. This technology can be used in heap leaching of gold;

5) - on October 6, 2024, a referendum was held on the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan, at the referendum, 71% of the population of Kazakhstan voted "For" the construction of a nuclear power plant. As is known, enriched uranium is the fuel for nuclear power plants. The extraction of natural uranium has become more relevant for our country. By increasing the efficiency of in-situ leaching, we plan to reduce the cost of 1 kg of uranium. I think that given the current realities of our time, our scientific project to increase the efficiency of in-situ leaching using liquid oxygen and ozone is for the benefit of our country and the people of Kazakhstan.

Based on the conducted studies, it was established that the uranium ore of the deposit generally possesses homogeneous mineralogical characteristics, with no significant differences identified between the ores of individual uranium-bearing horizons. The mineralogical composition of the ores from the Mynkuduk horizon, including the Central section, is predominantly represented by a coffinite-nustar association. According to X-ray phase analysis and electron microscopy studies, the coffinite content is approximately 15%, while nustar predominates, reaching up to 85% (total number of determinations — 127).