More we advance in time, more uranium becomes expensive. The capacity and number of mines decrease over the time. URANIU
MOROCCAN URANIUM PHOSPHATES
Tajeddine BENNANI KARIM Office National de L’Electricité Casablanca - Morocco
PLAN Morocco location
Uranium resources
Imbalance between supply and demand Uranium demand forecast Uranium market analysis
Moroccan uranium phosphates Conclusions
SPAIN MOROCCO ALGERIA
MAURITANIA
Morocco location
Uranium resources
Imbalance between supply and demand Uranium demand forecast Uranium market analysis
Moroccan uranium phosphates Conclusions
URANIUM RESOURCES 5.5 million tons of conventional uranium resources at a cost less than 130 US$/kg 10.5 million tons of undiscovered resources The question is : Will the identified and undiscovered resources satisfy the demand ?
URANIUM RESOURCES More we advance in time, more uranium becomes expensive.
The capacity and number of mines decrease over the time.
URANIUM RESOURCES
Primary uranium resources in the world
URANIUM RESOURCES Uranium World production
Uranium World consumption
42 000 tons/year
67 000 tons/year
The cause of this difference are the secondary resources
The main secondary resources are : - Uranium Commercial stock reserves - Uranium coming from the reduction of USA and Russia nuclear arsenal - Uranium from recycling through the spent fuel reprocessing cycle
URANIUM RESOURCES
Uranium World production & consumption
Morocco location
Uranium resources
Imbalance between supply and demand Uranium demand forecast Uranium market analysis
Moroccan uranium phosphates Conclusions
IMBALANCE : SUPPLY AND DEMAND Conventional resources Production (42000 tons) will not increase to reach the global needs (67000 tons).
The uranium commercial stock reserves are approaching zero. The Megaton to Megawatt program (USA/RUSSIA) will terminate in 2013.
IMBALANCE : SUPPLY AND DEMAND
The imbalance between supply and demand has caused U3O8 price increase : 22 (jan. 03) to 249 US$ (Apr. 07)
Morocco location
Uranium resources
Imbalance between supply and demand Uranium demand forecast Uranium market analysis
Moroccan uranium phosphates Conclusions
URANIUM DEMAND FORECAST Uranium global demand could double by 2030 and reach about 150 000 tons/year.
Nuclear generating capacity in 2030 Uranium requirements in 2030
730 GW (2006 : 368 GW) 149000 t (2006 : 64200 t)
Source : World Nuclear Association (WNA) - September 2007
Morocco location
Uranium resources
Imbalance between supply and demand Uranium demand forecast Uranium market analysis
Moroccan uranium phosphates Conclusions
URANIUM MARKET ANALYSIS Uranium world production must increase from 40 000 tons/year (current level) to 60 000 tons/year (level by 2015) at least. There are still unused uranium quantities "more than sufficient" to cover the demand.
The rapidly increasing uranium price and demand, lead to the exploration of new resources and new mines to meet the needs of nuclear power plants.
URANIUM MARKET ANALYSIS The conventional uranium resources are insufficient for an expanded global nuclear power program.
The supply can be increased by the exploitation of unconventional resources. Uranium contained in phosphate deposits, clearly dominates unconventional resources.
One solution is long-term extraction of uranium from phosphates.
Worldwide totals of phosphate related resources could total as 22 million tons (OECD/NEA)
Morocco location
Uranium resources
Imbalance between supply and demand Uranium demand forecast Uranium market analysis
Moroccan uranium phosphates Conclusions
MOROCCAN URANIUM PHOSPHATES Phosphates ware discovered in Morocco in 1920.
The phosphates have always been exploited by the Moroccan OCP Group (Office Chérifienne des Phosphates) created in 1920. OCP has the monopoly on mining, processing and marketing of phosphates.
Morocco holds 75% of Phosphate world reserves (85 billion tons)
It produces around 30.106 tons/year and should reach 55 by 2015.
MOROCCAN URANIUM PHOSPHATES Uranium prospecting began in Morocco at the end of the second world war.
the uranium content in Moroccan phosphates was discovered in 1946.
Moroccan phosphate contains uranium at varying concentrations, usually between 100 and 150 ppm. In some deposits concentrations can vary from 500 to 600 ppm.
MOROCCAN URANIUM PHOSPHATES
There are approximately 400 wet process phosphoric acid plants in operation worldwide. There is already a substantial feedback on uranium recovering from phosphoric acid . Eight plants for the recovery of uranium from phosphoric acid have been built and operated in the US since 1976 : - 6 in Florida - 2 in Louisiana Plants have also been built in Canada, Spain, Belgium …
MOROCCAN URANIUM PHOSPHATES 7
1. Morocco 6,9
6
2. USA 1,2
5 4
3. Mexique 0,15
3 2
4. Jordan 0,1
1 0
Million t
5. Others 0,65
Approximate marine uranium inventories in phosphate deposits
MOROCCAN URANIUM PHOSPHATES The estimated world annual capacity of uranium phosphates production is about 3700 tons.
The Belgian company PRAYON has recovered 690 tons (min.) uranium from Moroccan phosphates.
Morocco can be the world leader by producing 2840 tons annually.
MOROCCAN URANIUM PHOSPHATES
On Oct. 22, 2007, Areva signed an agreement with (OCP) to develop their cooperation and research initiatives regarding extraction of uranium contained in phosphoric acid produced from Moroccan phosphate ore. AREVA and the OCP plan to launch a joint study into the feasibility of an industrial site producing uranium from phosphoric acid. (Areva Oct. 23, 2007)
Morocco location
Uranium resources
Imbalance between supply and demand Uranium demand forecast Uranium market analysis
Moroccan uranium phosphates Conclusions
CONCLUSIONS Developing future nuclear power plants requires : - Fuel availability - Low cost Fuel over the power plant live Making unconventional uranium investments profitable The Construction of an unconventional uranium recovery factory requires about 2 years. Countries starting a nuclear power program are well advised to think about its long term sustainability. Fuel supply does not depend on the goodwill of suppliers, but must secure power production in the long term. Morocco case : Achieving a sustainable power nuclear program requires securing of unconventional uranium.
