Russia’s Rosatom launches pilot scandium-producing unit

MOSCOW, Nov 2 (PRIME) -- Russian uranium producer Dalur, part of nuclear power corporation Rosatom’s uranium holding Atomredmetzoloto (ARMZ), has launched a pilot unit to accompany production of 400 kilograms of scandium per year at its uranium fields, ARMZ said in a statement on Monday.

“Out laboratory tests showed that product solutions contain 1 milligram of scandium per 30 milligrams of uranium. This means industrial content,” the company said quoting Alexei Starodumov, CEO of ARMZ engineering unit VNIPIpromtekhnologii, as saying.

Dalur will supply scandium to nuclear fuel producer TVEL, part of Rosatom.

“We have to calculate consumption of chemicals, power and other resources to optimize scandium production. After that we will be able to switch to pilot tests, develop the industrial unit and a small production facility…for the unit’s placement,” Starodumov said, adding that the company’s total output of scandium in the Kurgan Region may amount to 10 tonnes per year.

Scandium is used in the nuclear power industry, spaceship equipment and microelectronics.

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