New Uranium Mining Projects - Jordan 
(last updated 18 Mar 2023)
> See also Issues for:
Operating Mines ·
Decommissioning Projects ·
Legislation & Regulations
> See also Data for:
Deposits, Proposed and Active Mines ·
Old Mines and Decommissioning
> See also Uranium Recovery from Phosphates
In Jordan, uranium prospection/exploration is being performed by
Rio Tinto,
Areva,
CNNC,
Gippsland Ltd. 
By-product recovery of uranium from phosphate deposit in Eastern Jordan feasible, Ministry says
A phosphate exploration project in the Kingdom's east has revealed that the region contains initial geological reserves of phosphate ores estimated at 650 million metric tons, according to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. [...]
"The results indicated that uranium ore concentrations ranged from 56 to 117 parts per million, making the harvesting of uranium as a byproduct feasible", the ministry said, adding that thorium concentrations were also recorded.
It said uranium concentrations averaged one kilogram per ten metric tons [100 ppm] of phosphate ore. Fourteen of the 20 samples had uranium concentrations greater than 70 parts per million.
(Ammon News Aug. 7, 2022)
Jordan to sign uranium production agreement with Egypt
Jordan is planning to sign an agreement with Egypt to develop peaceful uses of nuclear energy and uranium production, Khaled Toukan, chairperson of the Jordanian Atomic Energy Commission told Daily News Egypt.
The proposed agreement with Egypt, includes cooperation in the fields of research and exploration of nuclear ores, exploitation, extraction of uranium from phosphate ores, usage of nuclear energy to produce electric power, water desalination, and usage of applied researches in the peaceful use of atomic energy using research reactors.
(MENAFN Dec. 4, 2019)
Jordan to train Saudis on uranium mining
> View here
First uranium mill in Jordan to start operations in 2019
Director General of the Jordanian Uranium Mining Company (JUMC) Hussein Al Laboun has said that the process of building an automated factory for producing the yellow cake from uranium mined in Jordan will be operational in 2019.
In a statement cited by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, on Tuesday (Sep. 18), Laboun pointed out that the JUMC collaborated with a local engineering office to prepare the electromechanical designs, to be executed by a local company, while another is handling the design and testing of the automation process.
He noted that the quantity of the yellow cake in the mining locations is estimated to be 40,000 tonnes.
(Jordan Times Sep. 19, 2018)
Saudi Arabia to set up joint investment fund for Jordan, covering uranium mining, among others
:
SaudiArabia is to set up a US$ 3 billion joint investment fund for Jordan, among 15 cooperation agreements signed by King Salman during a visit to Amman, state media said Tuesday (Apr. 25).
Other agreements include measures to boost power generation, tackle worsening water shortages, and improve housing and health services, Jordan's official Petra news agency said.
It said the accords covered uranium mining and water desalination projects, and that a memorandum was signed to build a 70 million solar power station on Jordan's eastern border.
The agreements, worth a total of 3.5 billion, were signed on Monday.
With desert covering 92 percent of its territory, the kingdom is one of the world's 10 driest countries and wants to use atomic energy to fire desalination plants to overcome its crippling water shortage.
Jordan is thought to have significant uranium reserves and has struck deals over the years with foreign firms to mine for uranium in its central region, while also considering building a nuclear power plant.
One joint venture between Jordan Energy Resources Incorporated and the French company Areva was, however, terminated in 2012, months after they said that the overall uranium potential on a licensed area exceeded 20,000 tonnes.
The Jordan Atomic Energy Commission said in 2012 that a leading Australian company had discovered uranium resources in central Jordan that were more than double that amount.
In 2014, the Jordan Times newspaper quoted the head of state-owned Jordan Uranium Mining Company, Samer Kahook, as saying that central Jordan has reserves of 36,389 tonnes of uranium oxide.
(MENAFN Apr. 27, 2017)
Jordan signs draft contract with Saudia Arabia on development of uranium mining in central region
Jordan and Saudi Arabia on Monday (Mar. 27) signed 15 agreements and memoranda of understanding, involving public and private institutions of both kingdoms.
[...] A draft contract on research and development regarding a project on mining the uranium in the central region of Jordan, which was signed between the Saudi King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy and the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission
(Jordan Times Mar. 28, 2017)
Jordan looking for funding of nuclear power plant and uranium mine projects
Search is ongoing for resources to fund the first nuclear energy plant in the Kingdom, Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) Chairman Khaled Toukan said Tuesday (May 17).
Toukan added that the project also includes uranium mining in the Kingdom to supply the station with fuel as well as for export purposes. He said several Arab countries have shown interest in partnering with Jordan in the uranium mining project.
JAEC is currently extracting uranium at experimental units established for the purpose of mining, supervised by a uranium mining company in preparation for commercial production, Toukan said.
(Jordan Times May 17, 2016)
Saudi Arabia expected to invest into uranium mining in Jordan
Saudi Arabia and Jordan agreed to set up a joint coordination council that will oversee investments by the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
The fund's investments will be the largest in Jordan in decades and "will unblock billions of dollars" for the Hashemite kingdom, Bassem Awadallah, King Abdullah II's special envoy to Saudi Arabia, said by phone from Amman. Agreements on nuclear power cooperation and on uranium extraction are also expected to follow, he said.
(Bloomberg Apr. 27, 2016)
Jordan to study infrastructure requirements for uranium mine project in central region
Jordan will start studies related to the water, power and infrastructure needs of a $140 million facility for production of yellowcake in 2016, according to Samer Kahook, general manager of the state-owned Jordan Uranium Mining Company.
The study will help identify all needs of the facility, which will be located in the central region, including logistics, he said in a recent interview with The Jordan Times.
The factory, Kahook said, will help ensure security of supply not only for Jordan but for countries in the region that are already planning and are in the process of building nuclear reactors.
"By 2020, when the facility is operational, Jordan will be one of the countries that produce yellowcake commercially."
(Jordan Times Aug. 31, 2015)
Jordan to develop first uranium deposit in 2015, uranium exports expected by 2020
Jordan will be able to export uranium by 2020, chairman of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission Khaled Toukan said Tuesday (Nov. 18).
Jordan is home to 65,000 tons of uranium, which is enough to cover Jordan's needs for energy for 90 years, Toukan said, according to the state-run Petra news agency.
Jordan will create the first unit for production of uranium in 2015, said Toukan.
(Xinhua Nov. 18, 2014)
Jordan plans to develop uranium mine in central area
Jordan plans to build a JD100 million [US$ 141 million] plant for uranium extraction, Samer Kahook, general manager of the state-owned Jordan Uranium Mining Company (JUMCO), said Wednesday (May 21) as he announced that Jordan's central area is home to 36,389 metric tonnes of uranium oxide that can be easily mined.
The government is expected to start attracting strategic partners in the plant before the end of this year, Kahook, said in an interview Wednesday.
The plant, he said, will have a capacity of 300-400 metric tonnes per year and can be expanded to 1,500 metric tonnes per year at a later stage, he said.
"The design and the engineering works on the plant are expected to start in the next couple of years and in four to five years from now the plant is expected to go operational gradually," said Kahook, who is also a commissioner at the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission.
(Jordan Times May 21, 2014)
Jordan's nuclear programme "in violation of parliamentary motion"; uranium mining unviable for poor economics and water shortage
Lawmakers and activists have called on the government to suspend the country's nuclear programme, accusing officials of violating a parliamentary motion calling for halting the project.
In a public dialogue on a parliamentary report on the Kingdom's nuclear programme on Sunday (July 8), lawmakers accused the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) of violating a binding parliamentary motion passed last month requiring officials to halt all work on the country's first nuclear reactor pending the completion of financial feasibility and environmental impact assessments.
“We issued a clear motion requiring the commission to halt all work on the nuclear reactor until we know the true costs and its health and environmental impacts,” said Jamal Gammo, who heads the Lower House Energy Committee, which issued the report.
“Unfortunately work has gone on uninterrupted in direct violation of our motion and the will of the public.”
The JAEC has contended that the programme is in line with lawmakers' demands, noting that economic feasibility and environmental impact studies - due to be carried out next year - are a precondition to the reactor's construction.
During Sunday's debate, former JAEC vice commissioner Nidal Xoubi noted that uranium mining will require some 60 million cubic metres of water per year, an amount that Jordan, classified as the fourth water-poorest country in the world, cannot afford.
Participants also called into question the country's uranium mining ambitions, claiming that the feasibility studies carried out by French firm AREVA, which is currently carrying out an exploration of uranium deposits in the central region, have revealed that the Kingdom's reserves are “commercially unviable”.
(Jordan Times July 9, 2012)
Deputies suspend Jordan's nuclear programme and exploration for uranium; programme to go ahead nonetheless
Deputies on Wednesday (May 30) approved a recommendation by a parliamentary committee to suspend Jordan's projected nuclear programme, invoking hazardous consequences of the energy-generating project.
During yesterday's Lower House session, 36 out of the 63 MPs present voted in favour of a recommendation by the Energy and Mineral Resources Committee to bring to a standstill Jordan's nuclear programme which, it said, "will drive the country into a dark tunnel and will bring about adverse environmental effects that cannot be avoided".
Also yesterday, a majority of deputies voted for approving the energy committee's recommendation to suspend uranium exploration in the Kingdom until a feasibility study is conducted.
In its report, the parliamentary committee accused JAEC Chairman Khaled Toukan of issuing misleading statements that emphasise the economic feasibility of uranium mining in Jordan "despite the fact that no feasibility study has been conducted yet".
The government is required to abide by the committee's recommendations that were approved by a majority of deputies yesterday.
(Jordan Times May 30, 2012)
Jordan's nuclear programme will be unaffected by a parliamentary motion to halt the project, officials say, claiming that the project's activities fall in line with lawmakers' demands.
The Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) says it supports the stipulations set by Wednesday's legally binding motion, which they claim is in line with the programme's timetable.
“Waiting for the economic feasibility and environmental impact studies makes perfect sense; this is what we want and this is what we have suggested to Parliament,” JAEC Commissioner Khaled Toukan said.
Toukan said the motion will not impact ongoing uranium exploration efforts in the central region, noting that an economic feasibility study, due to be completed in August, will be the deciding factor in the uranium mine's construction.
(Jordan Times May 30, 2012)
Rio Tinto withdraws from uranium prospecting in southern Jordan
One of the largest mining companies in the world has withdrawn from uranium prospecting in the southern region, citing unsatisfactory initial exploration results, the Kingdom's state-run energy firm announced on Tuesday (Apr. 19).
British-Australian firm Rio Tinto brought to an end to over a year of exploration in the Wadi Sahra Abyad area in the Southern Badia last month after deeming uranium deposits in the region as commercially unviable, a top executive at the Jordan Energy Resources Inc. (JERI) said.
Despite the energy giant's withdrawal, JERI insists that the area deserves further study and has since taken over exploration activities in the area, JERI Director Fakhri Al Daghestani told reporters.
Meanwhile, JERI announced the initial results of ongoing exploration in the Al Hassa area - some 250 kilometres south of the capital - which indicate the region may yield "at least" 15,000 tonnes of uranium at an average concentration of 160 parts per million (ppm), a level believed to be economically feasible for mining purposes.
According to Daghestani, JERI approached the Prime Ministry last month in order to appropriate the nine-square-kilometre plot in order to continue exploration efforts.
Initial studies carried out by the Natural Resources Authority in the 1970s placed the potential uranium reserves in the central region at 37,000 tonnes, a number that revised to 62,000 tonnes in 2007 after the minimum concentration limits was lowered from 200ppm to 100ppm in line with advancements in mining technology.
In addition to a French-Jordanian team, a Chinese firm is currently exploring potential uranium reserves in the eastern edge of the Kingdom.
(Jordan Times Apr. 20, 2011)
"Promising uranium finds" made in Jordan
Officials have made promising uranium finds in Al Hassa, adding to the country's potential strategic reserves to fuel its nuclear programme, according to the Jordan Atomic Energy Agency Commission (JAEC).
In a public seminar on Tuesday (Dec. 14), JAEC Chairman Khaled Toukan said recent finds in the west and south of the country will bolster the nuclear power programme.
In ongoing exploration efforts in Al Hassa, Jordan Energy Resources Inc. (JERI) has discovered uranium deposits of around 190 parts per million, up to 400 parts per million in the area, some 250 kilometres south of Amman.
Meanwhile, he pointed out that the Jordanian French Uranium Mining Company, a joint venture of AREVA and JERI, have dug 3,500 boreholes in the central region and have found most uranium deposits near surface level.
Initial exploration efforts have confirmed that at least 70,000 metric tonnes of mineable uranium exist in the central region, he said, with expectations to surpass the number once the Jordanian-French team move on to other sections of the 1,600-square-kilometre concession area.
Toukan also underlined the potential to convert 140,000 tonnes of uranium from the country's phosphates reserves.
"If we extract half of it, this will suffice us for the next 100 years," he noted.
In the Southern Badia, Australian British firm Rio Tinto has discovered that uranium deposits can be found as deep as 25-30 metres below surface level.
(Jordan Times Dec. 15, 2010)
Jordan signs agreement on nuclear cooperation and uranium exploration with Japan
Jordan on Friday (Sep. 10) signed a cooperation agreement with Japan on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, the chairman of Jordan Atomic Energy Commission, Khalid Toukan, said.
The accord covers the fields of uranium exploration, nuclear reactor construction, protection against nuclear radiation and the management of nuclear waste, Toukan said.
It was the ninth such agreement signed by Jordan with advanced countries with a view to exploiting nuclear technology in the generation of power in order to cut energy bills.
Jordan is seeking a nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States, but talks have been stalled by US opposition to Jordan's production of uranium from local resources, Toukan said.
Jordan and other Arab countries have shown increased interest in developing their own nuclear programmes after Iran's progress in developing nuclear technology.
(Monsters and Critics Sep 10, 2010)
Areva, Jordan sign uranium-development agreement
Areva SA, the world's biggest maker of reactors, agreed to explore and extract uranium in Jordan as the country pursues its first nuclear power plant.
Jordan's joint chief of staff and Areva director Thierry D'Arbonneau signed the uranium-development agreement today (July 27), according to Jordan's state news agency.
(Bloomberg July 27, 2010)
Jordan, Algeria sign nuclear energy cooperation deal, including uranium mining
> View here
CNNC expects to deliver first uranium from Jordan in 2010
China National Nuclear Corporation General Manager Kang Rixin expects that the first batch of uranium from Jordanian resources will be transported home in 2010; the total quantity probably will be 700 tons.
(Caijing Magazine July 5, 2009)
Russia signs nuclear cooperation agreement with Jordan, including development of uranium deposits
On 22 May 2009, Russia and Jordan have signed an inter-governmental agreement for cooperation in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy.
The agreement is aimed at creating a firm legal basis for Russian-Jordani cooperation in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy and covers a wide range of activities including:
1. Engineering and construction of commercial and research nuclear reactors, water desalination plants and accelerators;
2. Prospecting and development of uranium deposits;
3. Nuclear fuel cycle services, supply of nuclear fuel from Russia and return of spent fuel;
among others.
(Nuclear Engineering International May 22, 2009)
Positive feasibility study on Jordan's potential to produce uranium from phosphate
The SNC-Lavalin Group of Canada has recommended the extraction of uranium from phosphate ores in Jordan to fuel the nuclear reactors the country plans to set up, Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) President Khaled Toukan said March 2, 2009.
'The feasibility study conducted by SNC-Lavalin has come up with very positive results as to Jordan's potential to produce uranium from phosphate ores,' Toukan said.
(Middle East News Mar 2, 2009)
Jordan signs nuclear accord with China on uranium exploration
On Aug. 19, 2008, Jordan signed a memorandum of understanding on nuclear cooperation with China.
The two countries will work together to explore for and mine uranium in Jordan and may also build a nuclear reactor, Khalid Touqan, the head of the Jordan Nuclear Energy Commission said.
The agreement, similar to ones signed with France and the UK, intends to help Jordan, which imports almost all its energy needs, develop a nuclear program to generate electricity and power water-desalination plants.
The country has uranium reserves estimated at 140,000 tons, according to Touqan.
(Business Intelligence Middle East Aug. 20, 2008)
On Nov. 24, 2008, Jordan and China signed an executive protocol for the nuclear cooperation agreement the two countries signed in August, according to Jordan Nuclear Energy Commission (JNEC) President Khalid Touqan.
The protocol focuses on cooperation in the areas of mining and enriching uranium in two areas in the Kingdom, as well as collaboration in the field of training and related research.
(Jordan Times Nov. 25, 2008)
Jordan signs nuclear accord with Romania on uranium mining
Jordan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Romania on nuclear cooperation. Under the MoU, Romania will assist Jordan to design, and operate the Jordanian uranium reactor. Moreover, the MoU includes, among others, cooperation in the areas of mining and processing of raw material of uranium in Jordan.
(Petra Nov. 14, 2008)
Jordan, Britain agree on civilian nuclear cooperation, including uranium exploration and mining
On June 29, 2008, the governments of Jordan and Britain signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, the chairman of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) Khalid Touqan said.
Britain promised to put its nuclear know-how at the disposal of the JAEC for the exploration and mining of uranium ores in Jordan. It also promised to provide nuclear reactors in Jordan to ensure a stable nuclear fuel service at feasible prices, Touqan said.
(The Earthtimes June 29, 2008)
Feasibility study underway for uranium extraction from phosphates
A feasibility study for the creation of the Kingdom's first uranium manufacturing facility is under way, due to be completed in seven months, a top executive concerned with the project said.
Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC) Chairman and CEO Walid Kurdi told The Jordan Times an international company is undertaking the probe into the extraction of uranium from phosphoric acid manufactured by JPMC's fertilisers plant.
"The study will identify the best technologies of uranium extraction from phosphoric acid, set the engineering designs of the facility and determine the total capital and operational cost of the facility," Kurdi added.
The Jordanian phosphate used in manufacturing phosphoric acid contains about 50-100 parts per million (ppm) of uranium that can be extracted via modern technological methods.
French nuclear manufacturer Areva will be given the chance to extract an estimated 130,000 tonnes of uranium from the country's 1.2 billion tonnes of phosphate reserves and build a nuclear reactor.
(The Jordan Times, June 17, 2008)
Jordan, France sign deal on help with nuclear energy and uranium extraction
On May 30, 2008, Jordan and France signed an agreement to help the Arab kingdom develop its nuclear energy program.
France will also train Jordanian nuclear scientists and help in uranium extraction, according to the agreement. Uranium is abundant in the desert country.
(AP May 30, 2008)
On Aug. 27, 2008, AREVA and the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) signed a memorandum of understanding in the mining business, providing for their creation of a joint venture for the exploration of uranium resources in the Central Jordan province.
A mining convention will be drawn up for the exploration and exploitation stages of the project.
(Areva Aug. 27, 2008)
On Feb. 21, 2010, Jordan and Areva signed a mining agreement for the uranium resources in the region of Central Jordan. This announcement follows the initial agreement signed between Areva and JAEC in October 2008 for the joint exploration of the zone.
Under the terms of the mining agreement, Areva has been granted the right to mine the deposit for 25 years.
(Areva Feb. 21, 2010)
Jordan to float tender for construction of first uranium mine
On May 15, 2008, Prime Minister Nader Dahabi said the government will sign cooperative agreements with international companies specialised in uranium extraction by the end of 2008 in order to develop the Kingdom's nuclear energy programme.
The premier said the Kingdom's estimated uranium reserves amount to around 70,000 tonnes and are worth $7 billion.
Meanwhile, Jordan Nuclear Energy Commission (JNEC) President Khalid Touqan announced on May 15, 2008, that the JNEC will float an international tender to invite bids for the design and construction of the country's first uranium mine by the end of 2008, to be operational by 2012.
Touqan added that the government intends to form a strategic partnership with leading international companies in the fields of uranium extraction and utilisation.
(Jordan Times May 16, 2008)
Jordan planning to exploit uranium deposits
The Kingdom of Jordan is planning to exploit its uranium deposits to provide the raw material for nuclear reactor fuel and has already requested bids from three international companies to extract the uranium available in six areas.
In addition, uranium resources available in the country's phosphate deposits are a subject of negotiations with Canadian SNC-Lavalin International , Jordan Nuclear Energy Commission (JNEC) President Khalid Touqan said.
He estimated these uranium deposits at around 130,000 tonnes, with a mine to be constructed by the end of the year 2008 and start production by 2012.
(Jordan Times May 9, 2008)
France to get access to Jordan's uranium resources
Jordan is very close to signing a deal with France whereby the first gets a nuclear reactor in seven years while the latter gets access to uranium resources, an informed Jordanian government source said.
Remarks to this effect were quoted by Al-Arab Al-Yawm paper on April 13, 2008, and the source is said to have indicated the deal came after talks with two companies, a British and a French company, and the details of the deal signed with the French company would be announced at a later time.
According to the source, some USD 1.5 billion worth of uranium material would be extracted virtue of this deal, the bulk of which is to finance purchase of the peaceful-purpose nuclear reactor and the rest to go to the treasury.
(Kuwait News Agency Apr. 13, 2008)
Kazakhstan assists Jordan with development of uranium deposits
According to a protocol signed at the occasion of the 2nd Kazakh-Jordanian Intergovernmental Commission's sitting on trade-economic and cultural and humanitarian cooperation in Astana, cooperation in the sphere of development of uranium deposits in Jordan will be continued.
(Kazinform Aug. 8, 2007)
Jordan says it has the uranium needed for its nuclear program
Jordan said the country possessed the uranium needed to develop its newly announced nuclear energy program but cautioned that it still requires the necessary legislation and manpower to pursue the technology.
Jordan's energy czar Khaled al-Shraydeh told the official Petra news agency that the country is estimated to have 80,000 tons of uranium. He added that the country's phosphate reserves also contain some 100,000 tons of uranium.
(AP May 5, 2007)
> View deposit info
Central Jordan uranium project expected to produce up to 800 t of yellow cake annually
The commission, Jordan Atomic Energy Commission President (JAEC) Chairman Khaled Toukan said, pursues its efforts through the uranium mining project for the production of the yellowcake, while forging ahead with exploration in central Jordan through a specialized Jordanian task force to produce 400 tons of yellowcake annually, and ultimately raise that to 800 tons.
Expert estimates put uranium ore in central Jordan at about 42,000 tons of yellowcake, he said [...].
(Ammon News Mar. 18, 2023)
Jordan's new uranium mill produces 20 kg of yellow cake from very low grade ore
The Jordan Uranium Mining Company (JUMCO) announced Thursday (May 12) that a new operational factory produced about 20Kg of yellow cake from 160 tons of uranium ore.
(Petra News May 12, 2022)
[assuming that "tons" stands for metric tonnes, this means that the grade of the ore was 0.0106% U, or 106 ppm U, which is a small fraction of the grades declared for the Central Jordan uranium deposits]
Jordan started operation of "pioneering" yellowcake plant
Since the beginning of 2021, the Jordanian uranium mining company started operating its "pioneering" factory to extract uranium yellowcake, according to the head of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC), Dr. Khaled Toukan.
(Petra July 24, 2021)
Heap leach pilot plant planned for Central Jordan uranium project
"[...] higher level process development and engineering endeavors are currently culminating into the construction of a processing pilot plant based on heap leach technology."
(ALTA 2019 Abstracts)
Licence for Areva uranium venture in central Jordan ends
Jordan said on Tuesday (Oct. 23) it had terminated a uranium mining licence for a joint venture between Areva and Jordan Energy Resources Incorporated (JERI), but the French nuclear giant insisted the agreement was only covering exploration.
"The licence for the Jordanian French Uranium Mining Company (JFUMC) to mine for uranium in central Jordan is now void," the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission said in a statement carried by state-run Petra news agency.
The commission said JFUMC had "failed to submit its report on time."
But an Areva spokesman said it "had never been agreed that (the venture) would lead to production."
"We created a joint-venture with JERI and the JFUMC as part of an agreement on uranium exploration in Jordan, which was due to expire this year (in January)," he told AFP.
"After having extended the convention for a few months, we agreed with our partners to end it... we consider that the job was done."
The commission said in the statement that a leading Australian company had discovered uranium resources in central Jordan were more than double the amount announced by the JFUMC.
(AFP Oct. 23, 2012)
Uranium resources in Jordan's central region almost doubled
Jordan French Uranium Mining Company's (JFUMC) ongoing exploration in the central region has revealed the presence of over 20,000 metric tonnes of uranium ore in 72-square-kilometre area, nearly twice the 12,100 tonnes the firm detected in its initial phase last year.
(Jordan Times June 6, 2012)
AREVA announces 12,000 tonnes of potential uranium resources in central Jordan
The Jordanian French Uranium Mining Company (JFUMC), a joint venture of Jordan Energy Resources Inc. and French AREVA announced that at mid 2011, some 12,300 tons of potential uranium resources have already been identified over an 18 km2 area in central Jordan since 2009, has performed intensive exploration activities in the Central Jordan license.
After this exploration phase, technical and economical studies will be conducted in 2012 to assess the feasibility of a uranium extraction program within the license.
(Petra Oct. 31, 2011)
Jordan to produce uranium 'within two years'
According to Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Khaled Toukan, the Kingdom is set to start uranium mining activities in the central region by 2013 pending the conclusion of feasibility studies later this year.
The Jordanian-French Uranium Mining Company, a joint venture comprising the Jordanian government and French firm AREVA, is to construct an open-pit mine in the central region some 50 kilometres south of the capital, which, according to initial surveys, is home to at least 65,000-70,000 tonnes of mineable uranium ore.
(Jordan Times Sep. 23, 2011)
Areva on the passing lane again, now with Siwāqa uranium mine project in Jordan
Working 24 hours a day in 12-hour shifts, 46 Jordanians and nine French nationals have dug 29 trenches to accelerate the uranium mine development process, which often takes up to 15 years, to clear the way for mining activities as early as 2012, according to Jordanian-French Uranium Mining Company (JFUMC) General Manager Gilles Recoche.
"This project is important to AREVA and we recognise its importance to the country of Jordan," he told The Jordan Times, noting that the central Jordan project has the highest exploration budget of all AREVA activities in 32 countries, accounting for some 15 per cent of the French firm's exploration funds.
Within the fertile zone, uranium is found near the surface level at an average grade of 400 parts per million, or grammes of uranium per tonne, results have shown. Lower-grade uranium at various concentrations is found at depths as low as 90 metres below ground, according to the company, another positive indicator for future drilling.
(Jordan Times Oct. 21, 2009; emphasis added)
Feasibility study for Areva-Jordanian JV uranium mine and mill to be completed by end 2009
On Oct. 3, 2009, King Abdullah visited the project of the AREVA/Jordanian-French Uranium Mining Company (JFUMC) in Swaqa, where he was briefed on the progress of the project for mining uranium, which is currently in its second phase.
Launched in September 2008, the project covers an area of 1,469 square kilometres.
The project feasibility studies are expected to be completed by the end of this year. After that, the actual planning to build a uranium extracting mine will begin, Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) Chairman Khaled Toukan added.
(Jordan Times Oct. 4, 2009)
Feasibility study for Areva-Jordanian JV uranium mine and mill to be completed by end 2010
The Jordanian-French Uranium Mining Company has expanded its exploration of uranium in the central region, after recent studies confirmed the presence of commercially viable amounts of the resource.
The company has been exploring a 1,400-square-kilometre site in the centre of the Kingdom since October 2008 and is expected to complete feasibility studies by the end of 2010, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.
Jordan Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Khaled Toukan confirmed that recent studies have been positive and indicate that there are large amounts of uranium in commercial quantities, in addition to the presence of uranium at greater depths.
The Jordanian-French uranium mining company is a partnership between the Jordan Energy Company and the French nuclear company Areva.
(Jordan Times 5 July 2009)