The National Uranium Company (CNU) will open a new uranium quarry in Tulgheş, Neamț County, because the uranium mine at Crucea-Botușana (Suceava County) will be closed temporarily and partially for up to nine months, writes News.ro. The decision regarding the mine in Crucea entails the temporary and partial termination of the processing platform in Feldioara (Brașov County).

Earlier this year, CNU was left without its unique commercial customer, Nuclearelectrica, following an auction of raw material, when it lost the sintered uranium dioxide powder supply contract in favor of a supplier from Canada. At this moment, only the National Administration of State Reserves and Special Problems (ANRSPS) is the off taker of uranium extracted by CNU.

“CNU is practically obliged to open a quarry in order to reduce the production costs and to be competitive in the market. Currently, the costs are much higher compared to the international market because the current mine in Crucea is about to be depleted. Works on the quarry start this year and could take two to three years”, writes News.ro.

At the same time, representatives from the Ministry of Energy noted that, this year, about 700 of the 1,200 employees at CNU will be dismissed with severance payments.