What processes does the uranium that is in the ground need to go through to become ready for use in medical isotopes? How much of Canada’s isotopes would be made from uranium mined at Kiggavik?
In order to turn the ore that comes out of the ground at a uranium mine into medical isotopes, it goes through a number of processes including mining, milling, conversion, enrichment, and fuel production before a nuclear reactor can generate isotopes.
Canada is the leading producer of medical isotopes; in fact, the National Research Universal Reactor (NRU) in Chalk River, Ontario, provides more than half of the world’s medical isotopes.
At this point, we don’t know how much of the uranium used to produce isotopes in the future would come from Kiggavik.
My question is this,will you be mining for plutonium.And if you are what are the risk of damage to the wildlife and its land surroundings.And if there are risks what are the chances of long term damage to the wildlife and the surrounging lands or will it affect the whoe Nunavut area.
Hi Louisa,
The Kiggavik project is a proposed uranium mining and milling operation. The purpose of the project is to produce uranium concentrate (not plutonium) to produce electricity. As part of the Kiggavik Project environmental assessment process we are conducting many environmental studies and monitoring the wildlife in the project area. The Environmental baseline work will be fully documented in the Environmental Impact Statement that AREVA will be required to submit to the Regulators and the public. Upon completion of activities at Kiggavik it is proposed to decommission all facilities and to return the land to a stable, self-sustaining condition suitable for wildlife and traditional uses that is as close as practical to its natural state. The Impact of the Project on the environment will be fully and independently assessed by Territorial and Federal Regulatory Agencies.
Obviously, in every active mines in the world there are many accidents during operation.
Hunter’s and Trapper’s notice for the past approximately 5 years that nature surrounding Kiggavik or that has pass through has been declining rapidly. Some of which were caught around the west side of Baker Lake (mainly Caribou were sick and some showing infection). To top it off, the Thelon River is flowing from west down the east right into the community of Baker Lake, which every person living in Baker Lake is drinking water from. Are we as perminent residents going to be taken care of with Medical reason with Mining Company’s help?
Also….
What are the chances for perminent residents to be receiving long term affects funding before they officially start the construction phase of building the road to Kiggavik from Baker Lake?
Mannik, we thank you for your comment.
Modern Uranium mines in Canada have excellent safety records when compared with other industries and have won the award for the safest metal mine in Canada several times. Our first approach to accidents is to prevent them from happening and we implement a number of approved safety and environmental management plans in order to reduce the frequency and severity of any accident. We acknowledge that accidents will still occur and we ensure that response plans are in place with enough people, training and equipment to respond.
We would be pleased to speak with the hunters and trappers who have made these observations. We spoke with more than 20 hunters and trappers as part of our Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (local experience and traditional knowledge – IQ) interviews and are always interested in hearing what the users of the land have to say. We have been monitoring the wildlife near the Kiggavik site closely during the field seasons since 2007 and we have a wildlife monitor from Baker Lake at the site. We provide wildlife summary reports to the Baker Lake Hunters and Trappers Organization each month we work in the field. Also wildlife consultants, with field staff from Baker Lake, have been studying the wildlife around Kiggavik and between Kiggavik and Baker Lake since 2007. We are studying caribou movement and we have observed that if caribou move near the exploration site it is in late summer and generally over a few days. These studies and the IQ information shared with us will be presented in the environmental impact statement we plan to release in late 2011 for regulator and public review. The Environmental Assessment process is being led by the Nunavut Impact Review Board with many opportunities for Nunavummiut to learn about the project and participate in the review.
The Kiggavik project will not release any water to the Thelon River. It is possible a winter or all-season road between Baker Lake and Kiggavik will cross the Thelon about 60 km from the site. The Kiggavik project is designed to not have a negative affect on the health of people in the area. The health of people working at uranium mines and living near uranium mines in Canada has been studied for decades. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) regulates uranium mines and releases information about the health of people living near uranium mines. The CNSC Studies demonstrate that present-day uranium workers, and the public living near a uranium mine or mill, are as healthy as the general Canadian population.
In accordance with the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement, AREVA will be negotiating an Inuit Impact Benefit Agreement with the Kivalliq Inuit Association. AREVA will minimize environmental impacts through Project design and planning with feedback from Kivalliqmuit and a variety of studies. The Impact Benefit Agreement will help to maximize the social and economic benefits of development for Kivalliqmuit.
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Johnny Qaqimat
January 27, 2011
2:41 am
If the mining is going ahead with the project in the future west of Baker Lake NU,
Akilingmiut the ppl from west that used to live out in the west and their Children should come first then anyone from Baker Lake ,us Akilingmiut know more than Baker Lakers about the land and where all the old campsites are and know more about the animals there and any kind of contracts should be awarded to the Akilinirmiut first because you will destroy the land that they used.
Johnny, thank you for offering your perspective.
AREVA learned early to consult with the people connected closely to the Kiggavik area. Many Qilautimiut people have visited the Kiggavik site and been part of the IQ interviews. Homeland visits started with groups of Qilautimiut. Homeland visits have been offered to Qilautimiut each year since 2006. Qilautimiut have provided valuable information on things like the best place to cross the Thelon River and the importance of the lakes and rivers in the area. Qilautimiut have been on the Kiggavik Project Community Liaison Committee since the start.
The Kiggavik project will be designed and operated so that the land is protected. During the exploration phase a Wildlife Monitor is onsite during the entire field season to ensure the wildlife is protected. Qilautimiut and other people from Baker lake will continue to be consulted with and participate in monitoring the work to ensure the people, the land, and the wildlife are protected.
It is already AREVA’s practice to give hiring preference to people from Baker Lake and support local business in Baker Lake and the Kivalliq. This practice started during the current exploration phase and would continue during mining operations.
“At this point, we don’t know how much of the uranium used to produce isotopes in the future would come from Kiggavik”
In others words, it is unlikely that a substantial amount would be used to produce isotopes.
Why not be honest with the people and admit that only a very small amount of uraium mined anywhere is used for medical isotopes?
Jimmy Jim Bob, indeed only a small portion of all the uranium mined around the world is used for medical isotopes as the majority of the production is used as nuclear power plants fuel to produce electricity. However, a small amount of uranium produces a large number of isotopes for nuclear medicine procedures. Canada produces about 40% of the world’s medical isotopes supply, which allow for some 50,000 medical procedures per day worldwide including 5,000 in Canada. At this point, we do not know how much of the world’s medical isotopes would come from Kiggavik uranium.