bruno chareyron, nuclear physics engineer, director of the criirad laboratory

June 2012June 2012 11CRIIRAD / B. ChareyronCRIIRAD / B. Chareyron

Independent monitoring of Independent monitoring of the radiological impact of the radiological impact of

Uranium Mining Uranium Mining (Example from Africa : Niger )(Example from Africa : Niger )

CRIIRAD / EJOLT Project / RIOCRIIRAD / EJOLT Project / RIO

Bruno Chareyron, Nuclear Physics Bruno Chareyron, Nuclear Physics Engineer, Engineer,

Director of the CRIIRAD Director of the CRIIRAD laboratorylaboratory..

Mail : [email protected] : [email protected]

CRIIRAD / B. ChareyronCRIIRAD / B. Chareyron Sept 2011Sept 2011 22

1 / CRIIRAD mission to Niger / 1 / CRIIRAD mission to Niger / December 2003December 2003

CRIIRAD / B. ChareyronCRIIRAD / B. Chareyron June 2012June 2012 33Source : AREVA 2005

ARLIT and AKOKAN cities = 80 000 inhabitantsARLIT and AKOKAN cities = 80 000 inhabitants

Niger : is one of the poorest Niger : is one of the poorest country in the world country in the world (IDH PNUD : 174 sur (IDH PNUD : 174 sur

177)177)

Uranium = one third of Uranium = one third of exports u = 190 millions Euro exports u = 190 millions Euro in 2007 = 5 % GDPin 2007 = 5 % GDP

CRIIRAD / B. ChareyronCRIIRAD / B. Chareyron novembre 2010novembre 2010 44

Crédit photo : AREVA

Open pits at SOMAÏR Open pits at SOMAÏR uranium mine (AREVA)uranium mine (AREVA)

CRIIRAD / B. ChareyronCRIIRAD / B. Chareyron novembre 2010novembre 2010 55Crédit photo : AREVA

Underground uranium Underground uranium mines COMINAK mines COMINAK (AREVA)(AREVA)


•Since the end of the 60’s : more Since the end of the 60’s : more than 100 000 tons of uranium than 100 000 tons of uranium have been produced in Nigerhave been produced in Niger

• Compared to 76 000 tons Compared to 76 000 tons extracted from 1946 to 2000 in extracted from 1946 to 2000 in France (about 200 uranium France (about 200 uranium mines / all closed)mines / all closed)

• Source AREVA dossier de presse 2005 et site web 2009Source AREVA dossier de presse 2005 et site web 2009

CRIIRAD / B. ChareyronCRIIRAD / B. Chareyron Sept 2011Sept 2011 77CRIIRAD / B. ChareyronCRIIRAD / B. Chareyron novembre 2010novembre 2010 77

Crédit photo : CRIIRAD, déc 2003

M Almoustapha ALHACEN, président of an NGO in M Almoustapha ALHACEN, président of an NGO in Niger : AGHIR IN MAN asked for CRIIRAD support in Niger : AGHIR IN MAN asked for CRIIRAD support in 20032003


• Immediately after landing at Niamey Immediately after landing at Niamey airport (Niger), CRIIRAD professional airport (Niger), CRIIRAD professional monitoring equipment was monitoring equipment was confiscated by the policeconfiscated by the police



Niamey, National Radiological Protection CenterNiamey, National Radiological Protection Center


2 / Niger : radioactive scrap 2 / Niger : radioactive scrap metal from the mines and mills metal from the mines and mills

is sold on the marketis sold on the market


December 2003. CRIIRAD performed gamma radiation December 2003. CRIIRAD performed gamma radiation measurement with a Geiger Muller counter in the streets of measurement with a Geiger Muller counter in the streets of

ARLIT City (Niger / Africa).ARLIT City (Niger / Africa).On the pipe below, gamma radiation was 10 times above On the pipe below, gamma radiation was 10 times above

natural backgroundnatural background

The CRIIRAD laboratory analysed a few grams of The CRIIRAD laboratory analysed a few grams of radioactive crust from the pipe (Uranium 238 = 10,000 radioactive crust from the pipe (Uranium 238 = 10,000

Bq/kg, Bq/kg, Radium 226 = 240,000 Bq/kg). These are tailings from the Radium 226 = 240,000 Bq/kg). These are tailings from the

SOMAÏR uranium mill (AREVA subsidiary). SOMAÏR uranium mill (AREVA subsidiary).


In ARLIT (Niger) people commonly re-use scrap metal for their In ARLIT (Niger) people commonly re-use scrap metal for their everyday lifeeveryday life

CRIIRAD / B. ChareyronCRIIRAD / B. Chareyron Sept 2011Sept 2011 1616CRIIRAD / B. ChareyronCRIIRAD / B. Chareyron

Novembre 2010Novembre 2010

1616

Radioactive pipes used for drilling in ARLIT (Niger) Radioactive pipes used for drilling in ARLIT (Niger) Radiation control made by AGHIR IN MAN : radiation level was Radiation control made by AGHIR IN MAN : radiation level was

49 times above natural value (year 2009)49 times above natural value (year 2009)

Picture provided by AGHIR IN MAN June 2009

CRIIRAD / B. ChareyronCRIIRAD / B. Chareyron Sept 2011Sept 2011 1717CRIIRAD / B. ChareyronCRIIRAD / B. Chareyron 1717

Crédit photo : AGHIR IN MAN Juin 2009

In 2009 the local NGO (AGHIR IN MAN) discovered on the In 2009 the local NGO (AGHIR IN MAN) discovered on the market place (Niger) radioactive liners that were formerly market place (Niger) radioactive liners that were formerly used for the radioactive effluent’s ponds of AREVA mills used for the radioactive effluent’s ponds of AREVA mills

(radiation level more than 100 times above normal)(radiation level more than 100 times above normal)


3 / Niger : radioactive waste 3 / Niger : radioactive waste rocks from the mine have been rocks from the mine have been used for road construction (and used for road construction (and

even in dwellings)even in dwellings)

CRIIRAD / B. ChareyronCRIIRAD / B. Chareyron Novembre 2010Novembre 2010 1919


Waste rock dump SOMAÏR mine / Niger

CRIIRAD / B. ChareyronCRIIRAD / B. Chareyron Sept 2011Sept 2011 2020CRIIRAD / B. ChareyronCRIIRAD / B. Chareyron

Crédit photo : C. Chamberland et M. Roche, 2007

NIGER / COMINAK-AREVA Hospital in Akokan city

Gamma radiation on contact of the soil (100 times above normal)

19 000 c/s

CRIIRAD wrote to AREVA’s CEO Mrs Lauvergeon in May 2007.

CRIIRAD got no reply

According to AGHIR IN MAN : the removal of radioactive rocks took place in 2008.

GREENPEACE mission November 2009, other radioactive places detected

4 / Uranium mining is releasing radioactive liquid effluents and

contaminates underground waters, rivers and lakes during

and after mining operations

Contamination of underground water tables (ex : Arlit, Niger)

• ARLIT : water is pumped from a non renewable resource at a depth of 150 m. About 275 275 millions m3 pomped from 1969 to millions m3 pomped from 1969 to 2004 2004 (40 % is used for industrial process)

• AREVA press release (December 2003) : “no contamination” of water

• In fact CRIIRAD showed that COGEMA-AREVA subsidiaries were giving water to the population and workers with Uranium and decay products contamination above WHO standards.

• Some of the drills have been closed since CRIIRAD and SHERPA press conference

5 / More than 35 million tons of radioactive waste (tailings) are stored in the open air close to the cities of Arlit and Akokan


Radioactive tailings from COMINAK mill (AREVA subsidiary) in NigerRadioactive tailings from COMINAK mill (AREVA subsidiary) in Niger 50 hectares / 10.5 million tons. : Activity above 500,000 Bq/kg 50 hectares / 10.5 million tons. : Activity above 500,000 Bq/kg

Tailings are « stored » in the open air : Tailings are « stored » in the open air : No confinment of radon gas and radioactive dust. What about the No confinment of radon gas and radioactive dust. What about the powerfull winds of the desert and the proximity of the cities (a few powerfull winds of the desert and the proximity of the cities (a few

kilometers away) ?kilometers away) ?



Storage of radioactive crushed uranium ore in the open air


• L’étude d’impact environnemental pour l’extension de L’étude d’impact environnemental pour l’extension de l’exploitation Afasto-Ouest (COMINAK) précise : « l’exploitation Afasto-Ouest (COMINAK) précise : « Les affections Les affections respiratoires du fait notamment du climat caractérisé par une respiratoires du fait notamment du climat caractérisé par une persistance des vents de poussières, occupent la première persistance des vents de poussières, occupent la première place à Arlit et Agadez…place à Arlit et Agadez… »./ . « »./ . « en terme de morbidité…/… à en terme de morbidité…/… à Arlit, les infections respiratoires occupent la première Arlit, les infections respiratoires occupent la première placeplace »…/… « »…/… « Impacts sur la Santé : apparition ou Impacts sur la Santé : apparition ou recrudescence éventuelles d’affections ORL et recrudescence éventuelles d’affections ORL et Ophtalmologiques liées à la production continue de poussières Ophtalmologiques liées à la production continue de poussières et de bruits du fait des activités minières ». et de bruits du fait des activités minières ».

• Le taux de mortalité lié à des infections respiratoires aiguës Le taux de mortalité lié à des infections respiratoires aiguës serait de 16,19 % à Arlit, contre 10,95 % à Agadez et 8,54 % au serait de 16,19 % à Arlit, contre 10,95 % à Agadez et 8,54 % au niveau national. niveau national.

• L’étude précise : « Les vents de sable, les rejets L’étude précise : « Les vents de sable, les rejets atmosphériques des usines minières pourraient être des atmosphériques des usines minières pourraient être des facteurs aggravants sur le plan pulmonaire dans cette facteurs aggravants sur le plan pulmonaire dans cette localité ».localité ».

• Pourtant les filiales d’AREVA continuent à entreposer à l’air Pourtant les filiales d’AREVA continuent à entreposer à l’air libre les tas de minerai et les millions de tonnes de résidus libre les tas de minerai et les millions de tonnes de résidus radioactifs produits par les 2 usinesradioactifs produits par les 2 usines..

6 / People exposure to Radon (a carcinogenic radioactive gas

produced by uranium) is exceeding the maximum

annual dose limit of 1 milliSievert

in the suburbs of Akokan city



Radon concentration in the air discharged by the underground mine vents is about 3 600 Bq/m3 to 18 000 Bq/m3, according to the company

One Becquerel Bq = 1 disintegration per second

7 / Hazards connected to the transportation of uranium concentrate (yellow cake)



Transportation of « yellow cake » :

1 600 km by road to : Parakou (Benin)

Train : 400 km to Cotonou (BENIN)

Boat to a harbour in France / One shipment per month

Train to the conversion plant in Narbonne (south of France)

Citizens where sitting on the radioactive drums on the trucks.AGHIRIN MAN complained about the bad condition of the tyres of the trucks and low wages of the truck drivers



January 2004 / Truck accident (5 people died). Yellow cake was disseminated on the road. Despite requirements by the National Radiological Protection Center in Niamey, it took one month for the Company to decontaminate the place. CRIIRAD measurements showed that the uranium contamination of the soil was 1 000 to 10 000 times above natural figures


AREVA conversion plant near Narbonne (France) : AREVA conversion plant near Narbonne (France) :

= 14 000 tonnes d’Uranium / an (UF4)= 14 000 tonnes d’Uranium / an (UF4)

Uranium is stored in drums Uranium is stored in drums

8 / Radiological contamination of soil and water begins since

the first step of uranium mining : uranium prospection


AREVA planed to drill 100 km per year till 2010. 50 m * 200 m grid / 48 km2.


Gamma radiation rates are 5 to 9 times above normal on the radioactive mud left by the drillers

bruno chareyron, nuclear physics engineer, director of the criirad laboratory

Documents

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criirad mission

niger comin

arlit niger people

arlit niger radiation

somar uranium

niamey airport niger

pipe uranium