This publication examines the benefits and challenges of recovering uranium from phosphate ores as an alternative to conventional uranium mining. It considers the low cost of uranium extraction from phosphate ores, its potential profitability and discusses the relative speed of equipping fertilizer plants with uranium recovery units (i.e. two to three years), compared with conventional uranium mines, which can take ten years or longer to develop. These issues are examined in detail, alongside supply security and environmental concerns. This TECDOC is intended for policy makers working on uranium supply security; mining and mineral processing experts working on unconventional uranium recovery and/or solvent extraction; and for researchers working on uranium concentrations in fertilizers and potential natural uranium accumulation in agricultural soils.
