Uranium hopeful Uran Ltd says it remains in discussions with Czech authorities to acquire a stake in the Rozna mine, Europe's only operating uranium mine.
West Perth-based uranium explorer Uran Ltd remains in discussions with Czech authorities to acquire a stake in the Rozna uranium mine, the company's managing director announced today.
MD Kate Hobbs said negotiations with the government and state enterprise responsible for running the mine, DIAMO, were continuing, despite the Czech industry and trade minister recently rejecting the company's earlier joint venture offer.
The mine has produced 20,000 tonnes of uranium since 1957 and is due to close in 2008.
Uran said there was significant potential for modernised technology to extend the mine life and improve its profitability.
The company also holds uranium assets in Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
The full text of a company announcement is pasted below
Australia's Uran Limited says that it remains in discussion with the Czech Government and DIAMO, the State enterprise responsible for running Czech uranium mine, Rozna.
Addressing the 2007 Paydirt Australian Uranium Conference in Adelaide today, Uran's Managing Director, Ms Kate Hobbs, said negotiations were continuing, and that Uran could see a considerable benefit to participation in the mine.
"This mine has already produced 20,000 tonnes of uranium since 1957 and has a strike length of 12 kilometres," Ms Hobbs said.
"It suffers markedly however from a lack of funding over the past 15 years for exploration and maintenance. The mine owners have done a remarkably good job on limited finances, but Uran can see significant potential for modernised technology to extend mine life and improve profitability, given adequate injection of funds," Ms Hobbs said.
Uran is seeking to participate in mining of future reserves at Rozna, which was scheduled to close in 2008. The Australian listed company is also interested in other uranium deposits in the Czech Republic (the world's 5th largest total producer of uranium) which might be suitable feed for Rozna,
This currently includes discussions with the Government and a private company on treating the higher-grade sections of the 60 million tonnes of radioactive waste dumps stockpiled around Pribram.
"The Government is keen to see these relics of past Russian mining cleared away, and we think that we can contribute to that process," Ms Hobbs said.
Uran is also pursuing advanced uranium projects and mines in other countries including the Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. A Protocol was signed with Ukraine uranium mining body, VostGOK in December, under the supervision of the Department of Fuel and Energy, which enables Uran and VostGOK to carry out a final feasibility study over two previously defined uranium deposits.
