Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Uranium Country Notes

Czech Republic

After an early start in 1946, uranium exploration in the republic was systematic and intensive during a period of more than 40 years. From 1990, however, expenditure decreased sharply, with field exploration coming to an end early in 1994.

There are 23 uranium deposits, of which 20 have been mined-out or closed. The Rozná deposit is being mined and two others may be exploited in the future. The Straz production centre has been closed but some ISL extraction is continuing under a remediation regime. Output from Czechoslovakian mines began in 1946 and until 1990 was all exported to the Soviet Union. Production in 2005 amounted to 408 tonnes, giving a cumulative output of about 109 500 tonnes. The Rozná mine had been scheduled to close in mid-2006 but the sharp increase in the price of uranium means that it can operate profitably until at least the end of 2008.

As a result of the Straz deposit being deemed uneconomic, and of the depletion of resources at the Rozná production centre, RAR declined to 510 tU at the end of 2005 and IR to only 60 tU, both recoverable at up to US$ 80/kgU. Undiscovered resources (on an in-situ basis) comprised 180 tonnes of PR recoverable at up to US$ 80/kgU and 179 000 tonnes of SR, unassigned to a cost category.