Qabul Khel
| Other Name: | Kubel-Khel; Kubul Khel |
|---|---|
| Location: | Mianwali District, Punjab Province |
| Subordinate To: | Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) |
| Size: | 500 to 1,000 tonnes |
| Facility Status: | Operational |
Uranium mining began at Qabul Khel in 1992. [1] The site's average grade of the uranium is between 0.02 and 0.03 percent, much lower than is found in typical commercial mines. Therefore, in-situ leaching technology is used for extraction. [2] The International Atomic Energy Agency has reported an initial resource of between 500 and 1000 tonnes of uranium at the Qabul Khel site. [3]
Sources:
[1] Muhammad Mansoor, "Nuclear Minerals in Pakistan," The Nucleus, 42 (1-2), 2005, pp.73-83.
[2] Global Fissile Material Report 2010, Chapter 10, International Panel on Fissile Materials, December 2010, www.fissilematerials.org.
[3] International Atomic Energy Agency, World Distribution of Uranium Deposits (UDEPO) with Uranium Deposit Classification, 2009 Edition, www.iaea.org.
This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, or agents. Copyright © 2011 by MIIS.
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