URANIUM MILLS AND MINES ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION IN SPAIN

摘要

ENRESA and ENUSA with INTEC (as architect engineer in charge of preparation of the restoration plans) have dismantled and restored a uranium mill in Andujar (Andalucia), a uranium facility based on open pit mining, a plant in La Haba (Extremadura), and 19 old uranium mines in Andalucia and Extremadura. The Andujar uranium mill was operated from 1959 to 1981 and was restored between 1991 and 1994. The site included the tailings pile and the processing plant. The Haba uranium site included the plant (operating from 1976 to 1990), four open pit mines (operating from 1966 to 1990), and the heap leaching and tailings dam and was restored between 1992 and 1997. The 19 abandoned uranium mines were developed by underground mining with the exception of two sites, which were operated by open pit mining. Mining operations started around 1959 and were shut down in 1981. There was a great diversity among the mines, in terms of site conditions. Whereas in some sites there was little trace of the mining works, at other sites, large excavations, mining debris piles, abandoned shafts and galleries, and remaining surface structures and equipment were encountered.