China’s largest natural uranium project produces its first barrel

China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced the production of its first barrel of natural uranium from the country’s largest in-situ recovery (ISR) mining project, located in Ordos, Inner Mongolia. This marks a very relevant step in the nuclear energy strategy of the country, highly dependent on imports.

The 'National No. 1 Uranium' (as it has been denominated) demonstration project marks an important achievement for its operational and environmental efficiencies.

The Ordos site uses CO₂ + O₂ in-situ leaching, instead of the conventional uranium mining, which involves excavation and a significant environmental impact. This process consists of dissolving uranium directly underground and circulating it to the surface through a closed-loop system. This way, solid, liquid, and gas waste are reduced.

The company described the project as a "third-generation smart uranium mine", thanks to remote-controlled extraction, automated systems, and real-time digital monitoring, allowing technical viability of the extraction. Previously, the deposit was deemed as unviable, due to the challenges that sandstone uranium deposits pose for extraction.

The pilot demonstration of the 55-gallon barrel of uranium production marks the transition from construction to active demonstration mining; however, the mine is not in full operation yet. To date, CNNC has not presented an official expected date for full commercial operation of the mine.

“Once fully operational, the project will provide a solid resource foundation for national energy security and the advancement of the nuclear industry, while significantly enhancing the international competitiveness of China's natural uranium sector,” commented CNNC.

The success of the pilot and the project plays a strategic role in reducing China’s dependence on imported uranium, which currently accounts for the majority of the country’s supply, mainly coming from Kazakhstan (66%) and Namibia (33%) as of 2023, according to World Bank data.

China has presented a plan to increase its nuclear energy capacity, which is 5% of the total energy supply, with 58 operational reactors and 32 under construction, requiring more fuel. For this reason, reliable domestic fuel sources are increasingly necessary, particularly as global uranium markets tighten and geopolitical uncertainties affect supply chains.

The Ordos operation is the first in a network of planned ISR bases across northern China—including the Songliao, Erlian, and Yili basins—aimed at building long-term fuel security.