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Sparton’s Secondary Uranium Recovery Program is designed to provide a highly needed source of uranium for several countries including China , while at the same time removing a significant environmental health hazard.
In China, the Company has established a sound working relationship with the China National Nuclear Corporation. Through its years of diligent work, the company has a solid track record of operating successfully in China . In early
2007, Sparton announced the signing of an agreement with
the Xiaolongtang Guodian Power Company of Yunnan, People's
Republic of China for a three-phase program to test and
possibly commercialize the extraction of uranium from waste
coal ash at the company's thermal power stations in central
Yunnan province.
The
Xiaolongtang, Dalongtang and the Kaiyuan stations, all
located within 20 km of each other burn coal from a centrally
located open pit lignite coal mine that contains anomalously
high uranium content. The plants are located approximately
250 km southeast of the Yunnan provincial capital of Kunming.
This
coal has a high ash content (approximately 20-30%), and
the coal uranium content varies from about 20-315 parts
per million (ppm) and averages about 65 ppm. Both the bottom
ash and fly ash samples tested by Sparton contain approximately
0.46 pounds of U3O8 per tonne. These analyses were done
in China and Canada and verified
by the Company's consulting engineering firm, Lyntek Inc.
of Denver, Colorado, USA. Lyntek
specializes in uranium extraction process engineering and has been involved
in over 30 recovery projects in 10 different countries.
The Company’s patented uranium recovery process from secondary sources in China has recently been recognized for its significant environmental impact.
The Company has been named the 2010 Best Clean Technology Company - Asia by World Finance Magazine. |
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Update: Second Quarter 2011
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The Company progressed in developing its uranium cleanup program in the Lincang Area. Its partner, the
CNNC Remote Sensing subsidiary “ARCN” directly invested its 30% interest in the Chinese joint venture
company (60% owned by Sparton), Yunnan Sparton New Environ-Tech Consulting Co. Ltd. ("SNET")
which operates the secondary uranium recovery programs in Yunnan. Sparton also carried the 10% shared
costs of its other PRC partner in SNET, Beijing John Hangseng Investment Company (“JHIC”).
Subsequent to the end of Q2, 2011 SNET entered into an agreement with Yunnan Geological Nuclear
Exploration Team 209 to acquire the ARCN 30% interest in SNET. Team 209 is a subsidiary of the CNNC Geology Bureau. The ARCN disposition has been mandated by CNNC in order to allow ARCN to focus on
its core business of remote sensing, airborne surveys and research. Team 209 is locally based in Yunnan
and closely associated with germanium production and generation of radioactive waste coal ash in the
Lincang area. As a local partner in the Lincang area, Team 209 is well established in Yunnan and will be
able to assist with local and provincial issues, as well as allow SNET to maintain its close relationship with
CNNC.
A revised budget for a bulk test facility for Lincang waste was prepared in early 2011. All CNNC radioactive
materials programs came under security scrutiny after the tsunami related Fukushima power plant
problems in Japan and these activities have generally produced positive evaluations. Test programs such
as those of SNET are not felt to be significantly affected by these security reviews but some permitting
delays are likely to occur.
A new financing initiative was undertaken for the secondary Uranium program bulk test and a submission
was made to the Yunnan Technology Development Fund to support the proposed bulk test in the Lincang
area. The submission was favourably received and negotiations are ongoing. |
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