ОАО «Карабалтинский горнорудный комбинат» Presentation by Mr. Maksim Savosin, Technical Director Karabalta

ОАО «Карабалтинский горнорудный комбинат» Historical data KMC established in October Main type of activity – mining and refining uranium ore. Production efficiency of ore refinery – up to 1,5 mln tons per year. Production – uranium, molybdenum (Mo), rhenium (Re), tungsten, tin (Sn), gold.

ОАО «Карабалтинский горнорудный комбинат»

Current activity OJSC KMC is working on hydro- metallurgical refining of chemical concentrates of natural uranium and producing ready-to-use products like natural uranium protoxide and oxide.

ОАО «Карабалтинский горнорудный комбинат» The raw material is supplied to uranium mining companies of Kazakhstan

ОАО «Карабалтинский горнорудный комбинат» MINE TAILING OF OJSC "KMC" It is one of the largest plain-type mine tailings in the post- Soviet territory. The mine tailing of OJSC "KMC" in Karabalta is formed in 1952 (Decree of the Council of Ministers of USSR No dated ) for stockpiling wastes of main production of the Mining Complex refining uranium and molybdenum ore. The amount of radioactive wastes placed at this mine tailing is about 37 mln cubic meters. The occupied area is more than 500 hectares. The radioactive material includes radio-nuclides of uranium (U ), thorium (Тh232), radium (Ra226). A close vicinity of populated area and the lack of preventive measures (unshielded rest of tailing maps, lack of cover to prevent dust loss) cause negative impact on all environmental agents (population, atmosphere, air, water, soil, vegetation).

ОАО «Карабалтинский горнорудный комбинат» MAIN WAYS OF REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT Construction of a new map for storing solid radioactive wastes in compliance with the safe and long-term waste storage requirements, which will exclude infiltration of polluting substances into the water- bearing horizon. Refinery of the tailing material with extraction of uranium from that material to reduce amount of radiation on environment to the amount of extracted U. Compacting of wastes, bringing them to the bound state to exclude their dusting and spreading beyond the area of pollution. Undertaking the landscaping works in accordance with the international requirements for construction of a facility for long-term storage of radioactive wastes.

ОАО «Карабалтинский горнорудный комбинат» ONGOING STUDIES In 2007 there was a geological prospecting project, which calculated the resources of the manmade interior - «Mine tailing of OJSC KMC. In OJSC KMC working together with German company WISUTEC conducted studies on development of instrumental and technological scheme for refinery of the tailing material to extract radioactive elements and to reduce environmental impact. The analysis of these studies by WISUTEC, proposed Feasibility Studies, and available international experience on this subject showed their unprofitability, and that the proposed solutions do not guarantee environmental and technological safety of refining radioactive elements at all stages (mining, extraction, transportation, refinery). The high value of the technical solution, complexity of the construction and high parameters of technological process provided within the Feasibility studies do not allow OJSC KMC to implement this project without attracting funds from international projects and programs aimed at reducing radiation risks.

ОАО «Карабалтинский горнорудный комбинат» ONGOING STUDIES Currently OJSC KMC has resumed to look for organizations capable in developing economically feasible and environmentally safe Feasibility Studies of the tailing material refinery, which will then be the basis for development of a Project aimed to refine the mine tailing wastes of the OJSC KMC. The relevant inquiries and terms of reference have been sent to related scientific and research institutes and organizations of Russian Federation, Ukraine, Uzbekistan. The following organizations have confirmed their readiness to cooperate: Uzbek scientific-research and design-survey institute of geo-technology and non-ferrous metallurgy O'ZGEORANGMETLITI OJSC VSRDIpromtechnologii (ВНИПИпромтехнологии). OJSC Irkutsk scientific and research institute of noble and less-common metals and diamonds" (OJSC Irgiredmet) CJSC «PNN GEOTESTSERVICE Novosibirsk state design and survey institute VNIPIET (ВНИПИЭТ) OJSC KMC is constantly providing technical support for safe storage of radioactive material of the mine tailing of OJSC KMC.

ОАО «Карабалтинский горнорудный комбинат» Thank you for your attention!