NIGER URANIUM CONCENTRATES TRANSPORT

摘要

Two mines produce yellow cake in Niger. The 'Compagnie Minière d'Akouta –COMINAK' producesmagnesium diuranate while the 'Societé des Mines de l'A?r –SOMAIR' produces sodium diuranate.Yearly, 1,960 mt and 1,000 mt of Uranium are shipped in the concentrates produced respectily byCOMINAK and SOMAIR. All the yellow cake is exported to Europe. The concentrates are transportedby road and rail to the nearest port at Cotonou in Benin and then conveyed by sea to Bordeaux inFrance. Niger Uranium concentrates transport is done according to the National 'TransportRegulations of Dangerous Goods' and the IAEA 'Regulations of the Safe Transport of RadioactiveMaterial'. Most of the prescribed regulations are met in practice, but there is a lack of emergencyresponse plans regarding nuclear safety. With the backup of IAEA, Niger is on his way strengtheningits nuclear safety regulatory infrastructure.