Under the wide skies of Ordos in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the "National No.1 Uranium" demonstration project has just produced its first barrel of natural uranium, marking a new chapter for sustainable and intelligent mining in the Chinese mainland.
Completed in a record-setting one year, this site is now the country’s largest natural uranium production base. Backed by China National Nuclear Corporation and led by China National Uranium Co., Ltd., the project introduces third-generation mining and processing technologies that promise cleaner, safer operations.
According to Yuan Xu, chairman of China National Uranium Co., Ltd., the project’s most innovative features include:
- Full-process digitalization for real-time data monitoring
- Remote-control operations that reduce on-site risks
- Advanced environmental safeguards to protect land and water
- Intelligent analysis to boost quality and efficiency
By harnessing these smart-mining tools, the operation makes uranium extraction more predictable and controllable—a crucial step as China’s total nuclear power generation capacity tops the world rankings.
Looking ahead, the technologies trialed here are set to roll out across northern basins, fueling the rise of new large-scale uranium mines and reinforcing global nuclear energy supply chains.
Reference(s):
China's largest natural uranium project produces first barrel
cgtn.com
