VostGOK increases production of uranium concentrate 31% in 9mths
KYIV. Nov 12 (Interfax) - Ukrainian state enterprise Vostochny Mining and Enrichment Combine (VostGOK), Ukraine's only uranium ore producer and processor, produced 691.3 tonnes of natural uranium concentrate in January-September 2012, up 30.7% from 528.8 tonnes in the same period of 2011, the Ukrainian Energy and Coal Ministry said in a report.
It was earlier reported that that VostGOK produced 892.1 tonnes of uranium concentrate in 2011, up 5.1% from 848.7 tonnes in 2010. In the first half of 2012, the company increased production by 6.7% year-on-year to 420 tonnes.
The company announced plans at the start of this year that it would boost its production of uranium concentrate by 10% to 980 tonnes in 2012. The increase would be possible thanks to further development of the Novokonstantinovsky field, which commenced test production of uranium ore in June 2011. The mine should produce around 130,000 tonnes of uranium ore this year with its output of uranium oxide concentrate at 180-190 tonnes.
VostGOK is the biggest producer and processor of uranium ore in Europe. Annual demand for uranium at Ukrainian nuclear power plants (NPPs) comes to 2,400 tonnes while domestic production only comes to 890 tonnes a year.