INDUSTRIAL METALS, MINERALS AND MINEABLE ENERGYINVESTMENT SUMMIT 2010
LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ● WEDNESDAY, 30 NOV 2010www.ObjectiveCapitalConferences.com
Thorium: the future of energy?Ahmet Arda – CEO, AMR Resources
AMR Resources Ltd
Rare Earths, Minor Metals & Thorium Project
TURKEY
www. amrminerals.co.uk
AMR Resources Ltd. (AMR), is a mineral exploration company with along term strategy of discovering and advancing big deposits with strongproduction potential - Mine-to-Market Strategy
100% ownership of mineral exploration licences in Turkey coveringapproximately 1860 sq km in Turkey – a country rapidly emerging as alocation where the potential for finding and developing an economicdeposit is favourable. The exploration licences are located in an area,named Isparta Angle in Southwestern Turkey which is recognised ashaving a unique structural and geological history. AMR’s explorationlicence area is a composite of exploration project ground held under titleby the AMR Group and designated as
AKSU DIAMAS PROJECT
Company Overview
Why Thorium ?
Only Uranium-235 (U-235), Plutonium-239 (Pu-239) and Thorium/Uranium-233 (U-233) are being used all over the world as Nuclear Energy Fuel.
U-235 Only 0,7% of the total Uranium recovered from the nature is U-235.
Pu-239 There are no minerals containing Pu. At the Reactors run by Uranium Fuel, Pu is created due to the break-down of Uranium.
U-233 In the nature Thorium is found as Th-232. By absorption in very small amounts of U-235 or Pu-239, Thorium is converted to U-233 and all of it is used as a nuclear fuel.
To be able to produce 1,000MW electricity 1,000Kg Thorium would be sufficient.
The only Thorium producing country is India. It is known that India is producing about 1000-1500 Tons of REO/year. Since, it is known that the Monazites of India are containing 7-8% of Thorium, it is estimated that Thorium Production of India is approximately 100 Tons/year.
During the last years apart from countries like India, USA, China, Russia, Canada and Norway and also Nuclear Reactor Manufacturing firms like Westinghouse, AREVA and GE put a certain weight on Nuclear Reactor Technologies based on Thorium but currently prefer not to disclose anything.
THORIUM
Why Thorium ?
USA based firm Thorium Power which has been active for many years, has been in cooperationwith Russia’s Kurchatov Institute. On December 2008, Thorium Power has established a jointventure with one of the leading groups of India, Punj Lloyd, in the field of Thorium Fuel.
The overall Thorium Resource of the world currently known is calculated according to the Thcontent of the monazites containing ratios between 0,1% and 7-8%.
As in Norway, generally Monazites are in fine grain sizes of 40-50µ, and the Th containingminerals in them are in the grain size of 1-2µ.
Besides the ones in India, one of the largest Thorium Resources currently known is Lemhi Passdeposit in USA which belongs to Thorium Energy Inc. and its proven reserve is 194 Ton ThO2and probable reserve is 3,579 Ton ThO2. China is producing Thorium as a result of their RareEarth production.
Any Thorium Resource based on THORITE Mineral is not known in the world yet.
THORIUM
Why Thorium ?
The rationale behind Thorium fuel SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS
• Huge global thorium (Th) resources – not in pockets • Excellent material properties in reactor operations• Superior proliferation resistance• Efficient plutonium (Pu) destruction• Generated fissile material (U233) can be re-used in
LWRs• Improved environmental credit in a closed fuel cycle• Improved waste characteristics (less volume and
toxicity / more stabile)• Can be used in existing commercial reactors• Ordinary fuel fabrication techniques can be applied• Licensable in ordinary regulatory environment
Source:
Global Th-Resources, tons;Australia 300,000
India 290,000Norway 170.000
USA 160,000Canada 100,000Others 90,000
South Africa 35,000Brazil 16,000
Malaysia 4,500*US Geological Survey
■ India has nuclear and Thorium as main energy strategy
■ Use surplus Pu-239 as seed fuel
■Only 450 kg Th/år
Indian 500 MWe Thorium reactor construction
WORLDWIDE ACTIVITES ON THORIUM
Why Thorium ?
India
Russia
The prototype of Thorium’s design will be tested in a commercial 1,000-megawatt reactor in Russia.
Scientists at Kurchatov have been crucial to Thorium’s work.
Why Thorium ?
Thorium in Norway
Fen areaThis geological site in the Telemark region is anancient volcano that contains a unique collection ofminerals. Rare earth elements and uranium inaddition to at least 1 million tons of thorium arealso of commercial interest.
Thorium Norway ASAThree parties have mineral rights in Fen : Thehistoric iron miner Cappelen Holding ASA, theNorwegian state and Thorium Norway AS. The lattershares the vision for a cheap and disruptive thoriumenergy infrastructure.
1 million tons of Th containminimum 300 yrs of global energy.
1 ton of Th powers the city of Oslo for1 year - using the MSR !
Debate and opinionSome see thorium taking over from North Sea oil. Vocal environmentalists have criticized both the Accelerator Driven System proposed by Dr Egil Lillestøl and varying Water Reactors proposed by Thor Energi AS. A stable majority of public opinion perceives thorium as acceptable as opposed to uranium.
LinksFen area (in Norwegian) Thorium Norway ASThor Energi Cappelen Holding Egil Lillestøl Norsk Thorium
© Thorium ElectroNuclear Ltd Svarvargatan 5, 11249 Stockholm, SWEDEN http://www.torium.se
Why Thorium ?
The ReportIn February 08 Thorium report committee chairman Mikko Kara handed over the document to the Norwegian Minister for Oil and Energy. The Molten Salt Reactor actually comes out in style : The Report recognizes the fact that the MSR is the only GenIV machine that can run on a closed thorium fuel cycle. Also thorium energy should be recognized as CO2-free and sustainable. a Nordic collaboration is recommended
Our commentaries to the ReportWe think that more emphasis should be have been focused in practical detail on reactor safety, operation simplicity, non-proliferation and cost.
The committee echoed the Norwegian Geological Survey, NGU, that mining costs for Fen thorium are uncertain. We remind that 10 000€per kg Th is fully acceptable. Due diligence in Fen will reveal primary revenue streams from Rare Earth Elements REEs allowing for high environmental standards.
Thorium Electro Nuclear published commentaries to the Thorium report on the Minister's website.
The MSR was mentioned in the Norwegian technical weekly TU.
© Thorium ElectroNuclear Ltd | Svarvargatan 5, 11249 Stockholm, SWEDEN | http://www.torium.se
Nuclear power is set to make a comebackNuclear industry has huge potential for new technologies and new
approachesMiners can easily mine thorium instead or as well as uranium
Thorium is the Greener alternative to traditional nuclear fuel promising alternative energy source that is safe and sustainableUsing Thorium as Nuclear fuel could generate low cost power
1 Kg Th = 1 MWeSubstantial long term investment upside
Thorium as an additional Greener investment potential to an investors nuclear portfolio along with uranium and nuclear technology
Why Thorium ?
Energy Extraction Comparison
Uranium-fueled light-water reactor: 35 GW*hr/MT of natural uranium
1000 MW*yr of electricity
33% conversion efficiency (typical
steam turbine)
3000 MW*yr of thermal energy
32,000 MW*days/tonne of heavy metal (typical
LWR fuel burnup)
39 MT of enriched (3.2%) UO2 (35 MT U)
Conversion and fabrication
365 MT of natural UF6 (247 MT U)
293 MT of natural U3O8 (248 MT U)
Thorium-fueled liquid-fluoride reactor: 11,000 GW*hr/MT of natural thorium
Conversion to UF6
1000 MW*yr of electricity
50% conversion efficiency (triple-
reheat closed-cycle helium gas-turbine)
2000 MW*yr of thermal
energy
914,000 MW*days/MT 233U (complete burnup)
0.8 MT of 233Pa formed in reactor blanket from
thorium (decays to 233U)
Thorium metal added to blanket salt through
exchange with protactinium
0.8 MT of thorium metal
0.9 MT of natural ThO2
Conversion to metal
Uranium fuel cycle calculations done using WISE nuclear fuel material calculator: http://www.wise-uranium.org/nfcm.html
Waste generation from 1000 MW*yr uranium-fueled light-water reactor
Mining 800,000 MT of ore containing 0.2% uranium (260 MT U)
Uranium fuel cycle calculations done using WISE nuclear fuel material calculator: http://www.wise-uranium.org/nfcm.html
Generates ~600,000 MT of waste rock
Conversion to natural UF6 (247 MT U)
Generates 170 MT of solid waste and 1600 m3 of liquid waste
Milling and processing to yellowcake—natural U3O8
(248 MT U)
Generates 130,000 MT of mill tailings
Enrichment of 52 MT of (3.2%) UF6 (35 MT U)
Generates 314 MT of depleted uranium hexafluoride (DU); consumes 300 GW*hr of electricity
Fabrication of 39 MT of enriched (3.2%) UO2 (35 MT U)
Generates 17 m3 of solid waste and 310 m3
of liquid waste
Irradiation and disposal of 39 MT of spent fuel
consisting of unburned uranium, transuranics, and fission products.
Waste generation from 1000 MW*yr thorium-fueled liquid-fluoride reactor
Mining 200 MT of ore containing 0.5%
thorium (1 MT Th)
Thorium mining calculation based on date from ORNL/TM-6474: Environmental Assessment of Alternate FBR Fuels: Thorium
Note: Special Thanks to Kirk Sorensen of Teledyne Brown Engineering Inc. for these slides
Generates ~199 MT of waste rock
Milling and processing to thorium nitrate ThNO3 (1 MT Th)
Generates 0.1 MT of mill tailings and 50 kg of aqueous wastes
Conversion to metal and introduction into reactor blanket Breeding to U233 and
complete fission
Disposal of 0.8 MT of spent fuel consisting
only of fission product fluorides
AMR Project AreaLocation
General Location of the Aksu Diamas Project
AMR Project AreaOverview
AMR exploration licence area is a composite of adjoining ground held under title by AMR Group and designated as ;
135 Lıcences coverıng 185,608 hectares
AMR, is advancing the following exploration projects collectively called the Aksu Diamas Project, within theIsparta Angle –Turkey
Thorite and REE Mineralizations in, Canaklı 1-2-3-4 , Kuyubasi, Cobanisa, Kurucaova, Kuzca, Derekoy 1, Derekoy 2, Beskonaklar, Pecenek, Karaseki and Golcuk and possibly other structurally controlled locations in Licence Areas.
Potential mineral commodities in hard volcanic rocks namely Karakaya Tepe (Golcuk) and Gonen Area-target minerals are Radioactive Minerals and Base Metals.
AMR also owns an extensive exploration database which contains information about further prospective sites in Turkey. This database provides the Company with a competitive advantage to identify prospective areas for project generation in Turkey.
All projects are 100% owned by AMR
Exploration Success: Resource Inventory
Technical Summary Findings
Potential Th & REE Deposits in the Aksu Diamas Project
Name of Deposits Estimated Resource CANAKLI 1 A 50.000.000 TonCANAKLI 1 150.000.000 TonCANAKLI 2,3,4 500.000.000 TonKUYUBASI 80.000.000 TonCOBANISA 150.000.000 TonKUZCA 1,2,3,4 800.000.000 TonKURUCAOVA 200.000.000 TonDEREKOY 1 40.000.000 TonDEREKOY 2 40.000.000 TonBESKONAKLAR 1,2,3,4 80.000.000 TonKIBRIT OVASI 30.000.000 TonPECENEK 70.000.000 TonKIZILALAN 40.000.000 TonKARASEKI 20.000.000 TonINALAN 30.000.000 Ton
Technical Summary Findings
TETRAGONAL AMR THORITE GRAINS
The tetragonal nature of the thorite crystals which were obtained during processing of samples from the recent drilling at Çanaklı
THORIUM MINERALISATION
EDS Analysis results
Quantitative Results AMR 2 Element
Net Counts
Weight %
Atom %
Formula
Compnd %
O 8092 19.31S 66.52 --- Na 115 0.12 0.29 Na2O 0.16 Si 16403 8.17 16.02 SiO2 17.47 Th 54838 67.92 16.13 ThO2 77.29 U 2742 4.48 1.04 UO2 5.08 Total 100.00 100.00 100.00
Thorium in our Thorite
ORE TYPE : Mantle Origin, Heavy Mineral Sand like, Liberated, Pyroclastic Tuff
MINING METHOD Quarry : Hydromining - DredgeConcentrator : Hydrocyclone + Spiral + Magnetic Seperator
TOTAL RESOURCE : Up to 2 Billion Ton
RECOVERABLE RESOURCE BY CONVENTIONAL METHODS : Up to 700Million Ton (35%) (-0,70mm+0,015mm Fractions)
AVERAGE GRADE : 1 Kg / Ton TREO 0,1 Kg / Ton Nb2O55 Kg / Ton TiO2 60 Gr / Ton ThO21 Kg / Ton ZrO2 30 Kg / Ton Fe3O4 (Micronized Magnetite)
RECOVERABLE PRODUCTS BY CONVENTIONAL METHODS : 700,000 Ton TREO3,500,000 Ton TiO2
700,000 Ton ZrO270,000 Ton Nb2O542,000 Ton ThO2
21,000,000 Ton Fe3O4 (Micronized Magnetite)
MINING AND CONCENTRATOR PLANT ESTIMATED OPERATIONAL COST : USD 2–2.50 per Ton
IMPORTANT NOTE :The rate of the Recoverable Resource by Conventional Methods is 35% of the Total Resource.This amount was obtained by numerous Gravimetrical Tests applied to our ROM Material.We are aware of the presence of the liberated economical minerals within grain size of -15/25µ.In order to gain these fine economical minerals, Flotation Mineral Enrichment studies are continuing.Once successful Flotation Test-Work is achieved the Recoverable Resource would reach up to 60-70%.
Our Resources
Our Thorite (75% Thorium)
ABC Yolu, ABC Plaza Kat:434460 Istinye, IstanbulTel: +90 212 323 3435Fax: + 90 212 229 [email protected]
AMR Resources Ltd
Alliance House12 Caxton StreetLondon SW1H 0QSTel: +44 20 7799 1000Fax:+44 20 7799 [email protected]
www.amrminerals.co.uk
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