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Mining exploration in Canada


		AREVA group > Mining Uranium prospection in the Shea Creek, Cluff Lake area (Saskatchewan, Canada)

Uranium, a strategic resource

For more than 15 years, the market for natural uranium has suffered a severe imbalance between supply and demand. This means that major players, including AREVA, must continue their exploration efforts and increase their uranium production capacities.

With a well diversified and structured mining portfolio, the group's resources are primarily concentrated in Canada, Niger and Kazakhstan. AREVA has also announced the development of new deposits with its partners : Cigar Lake (Canada) and Muyumkum (Kazakhstan).

The group is the third-ranked producer worldwide and controls 20% of its resources, with 250,000 metric tons* of long-term uranium resources, 80,000 metric tons* of medium term resources and 140,000 metric tons* of reserves ready to be mined, enabling it to sustain and increase current production levels representing 14% of world production. Considering the renewed interest in nuclear power, AREVA plans to double production by 2012.

The group has also decided to step up its annual exploration budget from 15 million euros to 60 million euros to be in a position to meet growing demand.

* January 1st, 2006