About Uranium Uranium Mining: World Supply of Uranium Canada produces the largest share of uranium from mines (29% of world supply from mines), followed by Australia (21%). Production from mines (tonnes U)   country 2001 2002 2003 Canada 12520 11604 10457 Australia 7756 6854 7572 Kazakhstan 2050 2800 3300 Niger 2920 3075 3143 Russia (est) 2500 2900 3150 Namibia 2239 2333 2036 Uzbekistan 1962 1860 1770 USA 1011 919 846 Ukraine (est) 750 800 800 South Africa 873 824 758 China (est) 655 730 750 Czech Repub. 456 465 345 Brazil 58 270 310 India (est) 230 230 230 Germany 27 212 150 Romania 85 90 90 Pakistan 46 38 45 Spain 30 37 0 Argentina 0 0 20 France 195 20 0 Portugal 3 2 0 Total world 36366 36063 35772 tU   (42 886 t U3O8) (42 529 t U3O8) (42 186 t U3O8) WNA Market Report data Mining methods have been changing. In 1990 55% of world production came from underground mines, but this shrunk dramatically to 1999, with 33% then. From 2000 the new Canadian mines increase it again. In 2003 production was as follows: open pit 28% underground 41% in situ leach (ISL) 20% by-product 11% (considering Olympic Dam as by-product rather than in underground category) During the 1990s the uranium production industry was consolidated by takeovers, mergers and closures. In 2003, the eight mining companies with more than 1000 t output accounted for 80% of mine production: company tonnes U Cameco 7194 Cogema 4738 ERA 4295 KazAtomProm 3235 Priargunsky 2800 WMC 2693 Rossing 2036 Navoi 1770 The largest-producing Western world uranium mines in 2003 were: mine country main owner type production (tU) % of world McArthur R (+ Key Lake) Canada Cameco Underground 5831 16.3 Ranger Australia ERA (Rio Tinto 68%) open pit 4295 12.0 Olympic Dam Australia WMC by-product /u'ground 2693 7.5 McClean L. Canada Cogema open pit 2318 6.5 Rabbit Lake Canada Cameco underground 2281 6.4 Rossing Namibia Rio Tinto (69%) open pit 2036 5.7 Akouta Niger Cogema/Onarem underground 2017 5.6 Arlit Niger Cogema/Onarem open pit 1126 3.1 Vaal River South Africa Anglogold/Nufcor by-product /underground 758 2.1 Beverley Australia Heathgate ISL 584 1.7 Top ten total       23 961 66.9 New Mines Canada has two relatively new mines which have come into production: Cogema's McClean Lake mine started up in 1999 and is producing almost 3000 t/yr U3O8 (2550 tU). Cameco's McArthur River deposit has enormous high-grade reserves and has started supplying ore from its underground mine to the Key Lake mill, to produce about 8200 t/yr U3O8 (7000 tU). Two more are ready to develop: Cameco's Cigar Lake underground mine will truck ore for treatment at McClean Lake and Rabbit Lake mills, 80 km away, to produce 8200 t/yr U3O8 (7000 tU). Cogema's Midwest mine will be underground, and this ore also is likely to be milled at McClean Lake nearby, to produce 2600 t/yr U3O8 (2200 tU). Thus by about 2006, Canadian output could be substantially be concentrated at two mills: McClean Lake producing over 9000 tU and Key Lake 7000 tU per year, with about 2500 t/yr coming from Rabbit Lake. All this will be over half of projected world mine production. (See also information paper #49 on Canada). In Australia Beverley, a 1000 tU/yr ISL mine in South Australia, started up late in 2000. Two further mines are under development. A similar-sized ISL mine under development is Honeymoon. These are similar to those providing most US uranium. Jabiluka, NT, is to be a conventional underground mine, though its production will be phased in to match the decline of Ranger. With the ISL mines plus Ranger and the expanded Olympic Dam, Australian uranium production is likely to reach some 9000 tonnes U per year. This will be almost a quarter of projected world mine production. (See also information paper 64 on Australia). Western World Uranium Production and Demand 1945-2001 Source: World Nuclear Association