Energy Neutral Mineral Processing with High Temperature Reactors: Resource Identification, Uranium Recovery and Thermal Processes

With easily extractable resources depleting rapidly, global production of uranium is moving to lower-grade and presently considered unconventional resources that can contain relevant amounts of naturally occurring uranium. Processing these resources can require large amounts of energy that could be provided reliably by small modular reactors (SMRs). This publication reports on the findings of an IAEA Coordinated Research Project (CRP) which investigated the use of SMRs for energy neutral mineral processing. It summarizes the results of the CRP and includes 12 case studies conducted by the participating Member States. It is intended to inform future decision makers and other stakeholders.