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Global changes in localisation of extraction, processing and usage of uranium: economic and political aspects
Skořepa, Štěpán ; Vošta, Milan (advisor) ; Jeníček, Vladimír (referee)
This thesis analyses the causes and theoretical perspectives on the historical trends of extraction and use of uranium. It also examines the history's implication for the current situation and future development of the field of uranium mining. The main goal of this work is to analyse the localisation of extraction and use of uranium in particular countries over different periods of time and also the political and economic aspects of its use. The first chapter contains the summary of localisation theories, theories of international trade, explains the connection between globalisation and international trade and describes the main characteristics of uranium and its methods of extraction. The second chapter explores historical changes of localisation of extraction, their comparison to usage in particular countries and confrontation with theoretical assumptions. The third chapter addresses the military and civilian use of uranium, its development and its future. The dependence of ownership of nuclear technology on the level of economic development is also examined here, as well as motives for its acquisition.
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International trade with uranium
Lešková, Tereza ; De Castro, Tereza (advisor) ; Machytka, Daniel (referee)
These thesis provide basic information about the uranium taking civilian and also military use into account. In this work, uranium market is being analysed and the impact of the production of the mineral resources on the country's economy is being assessed. The main goal of this work is to map the market with the uranium from the perspective of two main producers, Kazakhstan and Australia, and the European Union as a valuable importer of this comodity. The partial goal is to evaluate Nigerian economy to answer the question whether this country as a fourth world producer of uranium suffers from Dutch disease.
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Issues of chemical toxicity in the former of uranium ore processing plant MAPE Mydlovary
VENCLÍK, Zdeněk
Since 1986 extensive reclamation works have taken place in the area. Aim of this works is to mend the damaged environment, eliminate impact of uranium processing, reduce contamination of ground water and radiation effects on the area. However after 29 years of reclamation works, risks of chemical and radiation toxicity are still present. Massive development of uranium mining occurred at the beginning of 20th century. Czech republic was not an exception and czech government decided to build chemical processing plant of uranium under a code name MAPE. chemical processing plantwas built near village Mydlovary, in the southeaster part of Czech republic. Construction began in 1959. Operation started in 1962. Uranium was processed either by acidic or alkalic leaching. During the operation of the plant 36 million tons of sludge were stored in nearby sludge beds. Operation of MAPE ended in the year 1991. This thesis focuses on problems of chemical toxicity in former uranium processing plant MAPE Mydlovary and nearby area. Primary aim was to assess potential risks of chemical toxicity resulting from MAPE operation which could influence health of former employees, citizens of nearby villages and the environment. In order to determine the risks it was necessary to analyse chemical substances used to process uranium, possible signs of uranium intoxication of living organisms, quality and direction of ground water flow in wider area of interest. Among substances used to process uranium were different kinds of gasoline, diesel, ammonia, nitric acid, sulphuric acids and its salts, sodium carbonate and barium chloride dyhydrate. In comparison to dangerousness of particular substances it was found that most occurring types of damage are types of damage to skin or eyes due to irritant or caustic effects. It was difficult to analyse the influence of uranium intoxication on living organisms because of limited availability of useful and relevant information . Therefore assessment of possible effects were established as the result of previous studies. Former employees of MAPE could have been exposed to several kinds of uranium compounds (UO2, UO3, (NH4)2U2O7), therefore effects of intoxication by these compounds were taken into the consideration. Most cases of chemical intoxication were localized in the renal and respiratory systems of living organisms. Ground waters of wider area of interest were estimated as main carrier of potential chemical intoxication of residents of nearby villages and environment. Analysis of quality and direction of spreading showed that villages close to processing plant can use ground water only for irrigation (in the village Mydlovary ground water cannot be used even for irrigation) . Furthermore there is a small risk of contamination of collecting borehole S4 near the city of Zliv. Water from this borehole is drinkable and worsening of the quality of this water could result in exceeding limits set by decree no. 274/2003. Nowadays former chemical processing plant of uranium MAPE Mydlovary represents one of the most severe ecological burdens in Czech republic. Reclamation works significantly reduce negative impacts of chemical processing plantand without these works present situation would pose both real threat to ecology and protection of public health.
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Recultivation of Areas Damaged by Mining and Their Implemantation into the Project of Land Consolidation
FIALOVÁ, Martina
This diploma thesis studies deal with landscape restoration after mining. At the beginning of work there are briefly summarize types of reclamation, their main period and the criteria for selection of right type. The diploma thesis focus on land reclamation after uranium mining and the practical part is made on the territory call "Rožná", which is located in "Kraj Vysočina". In this work, there is also chapter in which we evaluate a possibility involving areas after reclamation in land consolidation. This part is focused to the territorial system of ecological stability.
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Peace Applications and Potential Terrorist Misuse of Uraninite
LOŠKOVÁ, Romana
This thesis is called Peaceful Use and Possible Terroristic Abuse of Uraninite and as the title itself indicates it deals with the issues of uraninite and its practical application. The introduction of the thesis analyses the history of uraninite from its early extraction in the 16th century, via discovery of radioactivity to the present situation, the use of uraninite and its individual elements in various peaceful spheres, e.g. in research, industry, but also in medicine. The first aim of the thesis was to elaborate a comprehensive summary of present peaceful use of uraninite. I have managed that thanks to collection of available materials, technical literature and websites. The other aim was to evaluate the threats of terroristic abuse of uraninite. I performed studies and analysis of current legal standards related to radioactive substances and their handling, as well as documents and studies dealing with the dirty bomb issues to reach the goal. I illustrated on an example what possible terroristic abuse of uraninite in the form of the above mentioned dirty bomb might look like, and evaluated the possible risk upon the example.
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Energetics in Visegrad Group
Horák, Lukáš ; Černá, Iveta (advisor) ; Čajka, Radek (referee)
Main purpose of this thesis is to find out how self sufficient concerning the energy raw materials are countries within Visegrad group. Further purpose of my thesis is to analyse total primary energy supply, the structure of energy supply in countries of Visegrad group and its developments in last 4 decades. Furher I want to reveal how the structure of total primary energy supply and structure of electricity generation reflect the disponibility of raw materials in these countries and transformation of economics in the nineties. A sub-objective of my work will examine how countries of the Visegrad Four use the potential of renewable energy sources and how they support it.
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Protection of workers, inhabitants and environment during mining and processing of uranium ore
PILECKÁ, Eliška
In the Czech republic uranium had been mined in Jáchymov (till 1967), near Příbram (1948 {--} 1991), in Okrouhlá Radouň in the south of Bohemia (1972 {--} 1990), near Vítkov in the west of Bohemia (till 1991), in Zadní Chodov (till 1992), in Dyleň (till 1994), in Hamr and Křížany near Stráž under Ralsko (till 1990), in Zálesí in Rychlebské Mountain and in many other locations. The mining of uranium influenced in considerable way health and quality of miners´ lives, and also lives of their relatives and up to now it still influencing quality of lives of people living near mining locations. Above all the uranium industry made irreparable changes in our country and the leftovers are up to now influencing the quality of our environment. That´s why there is a must to pay special attention to this area. Nowadays in the Czech republic there is registered around 3768 old uranium mines, out of it there is 2523 mining cannons which are obliged to be regularly controlled. The negative influences are marked as old burdens of already eliminated mining or modificating act on our environment or in some other way threatening public interests. According to the character of negative expression we distinguish mining burdens, it means negative influence of mining activity on stableness of the surface, and ecological burdens, it means negative influence on our environment. In my opinion a matter of uranium industry is very rarely known to the wide public. The main reason why is it like this can be the fact that in the period of main expansion of uranium industry in the Czech republic all the information connected to the research, mining or maintaining of uranium, were top secret. The second reason can be no existence of complete source of information that could be used for study purposes and the same time for informing general public. That is why this study should purvey such source.
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The changes in the localization of the extractive industry and the political consequences.
Novosadová, Monika ; Vošta, Milan (advisor) ; Kašpar, Václav (referee)
The bachelor thesis analyzes the global changes in the territorial structure of the extraction of the mineral resources, especially the energy resources and less some precious metals and diamonds and related political consequences. This bachelor thesis describes also the importance of these resources for human society and their deposits. There are also outlined possible future development of the extraction of these resources. The first chapter illustrates general characteristic of the extractive industry. It introduces the ranking of the extractive industry, main mining regions and the biggest producers of some minerals. The second chapter closely presents energy resources, i. e. mining of energy resources, their deposits, their usage and possible future developments. The third chapter focuses on the mineral resources, i. e. their extraction, deposits, usage and possible future trends. The fourth chapter introduces the political consequences related with global changes in the territorial structure of the extraction of the mineral resources.
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