THIS ORIGINAL
POST WAS PUBLISHED AUGUST 22, 2011
MENA Mining (xii): Jordan
As most of the countries in the region, Jordan benefits of it geologic
structure, and the government understands the importance of minerals to
economic and social well-being. In 2008 there were 75 active mining agreements
with local and international companies that contributed 10% to the Kingdom’s
GDP and 20% of its exports in 2007.
The Website of the National Resources Authority provides data on Mining Sector Performance During 2008 , as well as Directory of Jordanian Mining Companies 2005, Laws and regulations
Jordan has
deposits of copper, gold, iron, sulfur, titanium, bromine and manganese (in the
Dead Sea).
Jordan's
leading industry and export commodity is phosphate, ranking as one of the top
in world output. Other are potash, fertilizers (made from phosphate rock and
potash), cement production. Jordan also produces common clay, feldspar, natural
gas and petroleum (for domestic consumption), gravel, gypsum, kaolin, lime,
limestone, marble, crushed rock, salt, silica sand, steel, dimension stone,
sulfuric acid, and zeolite tuff.
Source: Doing Business in Jordan
Uranium
“There are quantities of Uranium oxide U3O8 ores with a reasonable
concentration in Central Jordan. These ores can be exploited, where one part
can be used to produce nuclear fuel for the nuclear reactors, while the rest
can be exported to support the economy of Jordan. The utilization of these ores
is in agreement with the principle of securing additional local energy
resources” – this is statement from the Jordan Energy
Resources Inc. (JERI) website, which
further explains the nuclear energy strategy of the Kingdom. Location of uranium
deposits is represented on the following graph:
Source: Jordan’s Nuclear Programme Kamal J. Araj Jordan Atomic Energy
Commission
According
to some estimates, that there are about 65,000 tons of uranium
reserves in central Jordan, in addition to other amounts in different areas;
with expected rate of production of about 2,000 tons per annum. Limited part of
it will be used in Jordan’s nuclear reactors, while the rest will be exported.
There is also a potential to convert 140,000 Mt of uranium from the country's
phosphates reserves (that was confirmed in 2009 by the feasibility study by SNC-Lavalin Group of
Canada).
Al Hassa
area - 250 km south of the capital – according to Jordan Energy Resources Inc. (JERI), exploration indicates the region
may yield 15,000 tons of uranium at an average concentration of 160 parts per
million (ppm), a level believed to be economically feasible for mining
purposes.
Uranium prospecting/exploration is being performed by:
·
Jordanian-French Uranium Mining Company (JFUMC), a joint venture between JAEC and Areva (since October 2008), -- in Central Jordan: in Sqawa; Khan Azzabib,
Wadi Maghar and Attarat areas. Mining of the combined estimated reserve of
64,880t is envisaged to start in 2012 at a rate of 2000tpa.
·
China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC): at Hamra-Hausha in the North and Wadi Baheyya in the South.
·
Rio Tinto: In April 2011 it was announced that Rio Tinto brought to an end to over a
year of exploration in the Wadi Sahra Abyad area in the Southern Badia after
deeming uranium deposits in the region as commercially unviable.
·
Gippsland Ltd.: was
performing some activities, but last June it was announced that the company “has withdrawn from discussions with the Jordanian
Government regarding exploration opportunities in Jordan.”
·
Alliance Resources Ltd: was performing some activities, but last June it was announced that the company “has withdrawn from discussions with the Jordanian
Government regarding exploration opportunities in Jordan.”
Copper deposits
between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba remained undeveloped. Other
potential for progress lay in the availability of bromine, dolomite, glass
sands, iron, lead, oil shale, tin, travertine.
Gold as a
prospect has been discovered in the northern parts of the Arabo-Nubian Shield
in Southern Jordan. It is located 90 km North-Northeast of Aqaba. The prospect
lies 4 km East of Amman Safi Aqaba highway in Wadi Araba. The best occurrence
retains gold values of up to 40 g/t.
Iron ores occur in Jordan only in limited amounts, and the major deposits are the Warda Deposit, Ajloun (East of the
Dead Sea); Amman (Abdoun), Jil’aad (30 km North-West of Amman) and Berain (10
km North of Amman). Even though the occurrence of the ore is limited, surface
mining is still in progress. The ore is used in the cement industry for
correction purposes and as construction material in the tile production
Some useful links:
·
Jordan Phosphate Mines Co. (JOPH) corporate
brief
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