Tech

Worried, distrustful before the plan to ensure waste from the Niger uranium mine


20 million tons of waste that has been exposed to uranium is now spread over 120 hectares north of Niger in m

The 20 million tons of waste that have been exposed to uranium are now spread across 120 hectares of northern Niger into mounds up to 35 meters high.

Towering mounds of earth dot the desert landscape in the Arlit region of northern Niger, but they’re nothing short of natural—they’re partially radioactive waste dumps left over from four decades of operation at the site. one of the largest uranium mines in the world.

An ambitious, $160 million 10-year plan is underway to secure waste and avoid risks to health and the environment, but many locals are worried or skeptical.

Since 1978, the French nuclear giant Areva, now known as Orano, has worked in the area under the management of a subsidiary, Akouta Mining Company (Cominak).

It closed the site in 2021 after mining 75,000 tons uraniummuch of which is used to fuel the numerous nuclear reactors that provide the backbone of France’s electricity supply.

Cominak general manager Mahaman Sani Abdoulaye introduced the restoration project to the first French journalists to visit the site since 2010, when seven Areva employees were kidnapped by jihadists.

Abdoulaye said the company intends to hand over a “site (ie) that is safe, healthy and pollution-free, in line with national standards and international recommendations”.

The most difficult task is to deal with about 20 million tons of waste that has been exposed to uranium.

The waste spread over 120 hectares (nearly 300 acres) into mounds up to 35 meters (114 feet) high, but its radiation levels were very low, said Helene Sciorella Djibo, in charge of the operation.

“We have natural doses below what can be found in parts of France and the world,” she said.

Orano’s plan is to level the waste and seal it under a two-meter-deep waterproof layer of clay and sandstone, supported by a program of air and water monitoring for at least five years.

Nigeria

Nigeria.

Worry

But in the town of Arlit, with the surrounding area having a population of 200,000, there is concern.

Bassirou Babale, director of mining at Arlit, points to concerns about whether cracks could develop in the mantle above the waste.

“The concern is that the leak could allow radon – a carcinogenic radioactive gas derived from the natural breakdown of uranium – to escape and ‘flood the town’,” he said.

“Tests (of the cover) are underway,” he said.

Rhamar Ilatoufegh of a local NGO called Aghir In’man (Human Shield) was furious.

“Radioactive waste is being stored outdoors,” he said. “This is the biggest negative legacy left from uranium mining.”

A French watchdog, the Commission for Information and Independent Research on Radioactivity (CRIIRAD), has described the waste as a “sword of Damocles” hanging over the area’s water supply.

Orano’s Gilles Recoche, director of accountability, engagement and communications, said air and water were being monitored “widely” across the town.

French nuclear giant Areva, now known as Orano, mined the Arlit site from 1978-2021, mining 75,000 tons of uranium

French nuclear giant Areva, now known as Orano, mined the Arlit site from 1978-2021, mining 75,000 tons of uranium.

“The level is below Niger standards and international law,” he said. “There have been no confirmed cases of radiation-related illness.”
—Uranium richness

Niger regulations stipulate a safe threshold for miners of 20 millisieverts (mSv) of radiation a year. Orano has reported that the maximum exposure at the mining site in 2022 is 8.6 mSv per year.

But former Cominak employee Hassan Souley is skeptical.

“People live seven kilometers (four miles) away from the mines—everyone is very worried, some is sick,” he said.

“Orano is behind all these problems and doesn’t even want to listen.”

The mayor of Arlit, Abdourahmane Maouli, indicated steps are being taken to try to allay concerns.

“There’s distrust, suspicion and fear about radiation in our town, that’s normal,” he said. “But measures have been taken to address it.”

An agency established in 2012, the Agadez Regional Health Observatory (OSRA), is monitoring the health of people who have retired or left Cominak and Somair, another mine in the region that is still under construction. operated by Orano.

'Safety is life' writes a sign at the entrance to Niger's Cominak mine

“Safety is life” is the inscription at the entrance to Niger’s Cominak mine.

“Out of 2,000 consultations, we discovered dozens of cases of illnesses that could be caused by radiation – leukemia, lung cancer and silicosis,” an OSRA doctor, Ayouba Dogonyaro, told AFP.

“Six of them have been recognized (as such) by the OSRA medical committee, including three doctors representing the mine, civil society and the state,” he said.

mining future

Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, but also one of the largest sources of uranium on the planet.

Its Mining sector is eyeing a long-term future like nuclear industry its potential touts to reduce dependence on carbon-emitting fossil fuels.

One of the world’s largest uranium mines is located at Imouraren, about 80 kilometers (50 mi) south of Arlit.

Matthieu Davrinche, director of Imouraren, which works with Orano and the Niger government to explore the potential of the site, told AFP that tests will begin next year at the site, where it is estimated is estimated to have reserves of 200,000 tons of uranium.

He said a decision on whether to mine the deposits will be made in 2028.

The plan was put on hold in 2015 after the price of uranium dropped following the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan.

© 2023 AFP

quote: Worried, not confident to meet waste assurance plans from Niger uranium mine (2023, 15 March) retrieved 15 March 2023 from https://techxplore.com/news/2023-03- mistrust-niger-uranium.html

This document is the subject for the collection of authors. Other than any fair dealing for private learning or research purposes, no part may be reproduced without written permission. The content provided is for informational purposes only.

news7f

News7F: Update the world's latest breaking news online of the day, breaking news, politics, society today, international mainstream news .Updated news 24/7: Entertainment, Sports...at the World everyday world. Hot news, images, video clips that are updated quickly and reliably

Related Articles

Back to top button