Click here for Cameco Investment

"This agreement strengthens our efforts to identify new uranium reserves for the future. Cameco gains the right to participate in the exploration of new regions and adds the expertise of a solid technical team to our knowledge base."

Cameco President & CEO on UNOR investment

UNOR Home UNOR Company Information UNOR Mineral Properties and Exploration Program UNOR Article Series UNOR Investor Relations Information

Why UNOR?

 

Last Price: 0.06 Change: 0.01 Volume: 128500

Delayed quote for UNI - UNOR Inc.
For details, please click here.

Location, Location, Location

By George Bell

In the world of uranium exploration, location does matter…

Take Australia, for example, the world most uranium rich continent. In the 1970's the labor party instituted a "three mine" policy, in an effort to curb environmental genocide when it comes to uranium mining. Then, in 2007 at the Labor Party National Conference, the three-mine policy was aborted, something uranium producers saw as a major step for the industry. However, Australia is made of up territories, and even though the Labor part has overthrow the obsolete policy, the territories themselves are still a major hurdle to any actual mines coming online anytime soon.

Fact is, even though the Labor Party has made the change, attempting to bring a new mine online in Australia will still prove to be a substantial battle.

United States: The Same Story

Then, there is the United States, which shut down the last open pit mine in 1992. While the United States talks about becoming energy independent, the bureaucracy and public outcry behind new mines is staggering. Recently, the Washington Post reported, "Lawmakers concerned about land, air and drinking water contamination killed a proposal Monday that would have allowed a study of whether uranium can be safely mined on 200 acres in south-central Virginia, eliminating any chance that the controversial bill could pass this year." Over the past year, Virginia Uranium has been working to begin exploratory drilling on it's 200-acre property, which could hold one of the largest uranium deposits in the nation.

Then, just take Yellowstone for example. According to Wise-Uranim.org, "On Feb. 11, 2008, the Sierra Club's Grand Canyon chapter and the Center for Biological Diversity requested that the Kaibab National Forest withdraw approval of up to 39 new uranium-exploration drilling sites immediately south of Grand Canyon National Park. The Forest Service had claimed that the proposed drilling was exempt from detailed environmental review because it would have no effect on the environment."

There are operating mines in the United States, but clearly, attempting to bring a new mine online is nothing but a headache with companies having to contend with Environmental and cultural groups, policy-makers and really, road blocks from oil-related lobbyists and the current crude-friendly administration. Sadly, the United States is the fourth-most uranium rich country in the world, but the bureaucracy within will keep it from accessing uranium resources for years to come.

Canada - Problems Cropping Up

Canada produces the bulk of the world's uranium, all of which come from the Athabasca basin, located in Saskatchewan. The Athabasca basin is home to mega-mines like Cigar Lake, Rabbit Lake, and McArthur River. However, native and environmental groups in some jurisdictions are feverishly attempting to halt future production in its tracks.

The problem is that many of these organizations really do not understand how uranium mining - in present times - has not only become safe, but highly regulated, so as to keep the public from any radioactive fallout, all at the same time.

Even the founder of Greenpeace supports nuclear power…

At the end of the day, uranium mining - or at least new mines coming online - will be limited in the years to come, as political jockeying takes precedence over actual production.

There is one Canadian jurisdiction though that has none of the problems of Australia, the United States, or some other parts of Canada.

Nunavut - The Future of Uranium Mining

Obviously the political landscape worldwide, poses significant hurdles for uranium production. However, there is one area on earth that has none of the regulatory issues facing new mines worldwide: Nunavut.

Moreover, Nunavut has the same geological setting as the Athabasca and Thelon basins, indicating that the territory could hold some of the world's largest undiscovered uranium deposits.

For a little background, Nunavut was created April 1, 1999 as a result of the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement and is the only jurisdiction in Canada that has settled its native land claim issues.

Nunavut has no regulatory hurdles from bringing new mines on line.

What's more, should UNOR's claims within Nunavut come up with a significant uranium deposit, production companies worldwide will likely scramble to purchase the new-found deposits, or the company.

Companies like Cameco are already aware of the regulatory ease UNOR's claims hold, as seen the world's largest uranium producers 2006 purchase of over 19% of UNOR.

And, UNOR is working hard to ensure that it takes great care of natives in Nunavut. During the March/September 2007 exploration season, the company hired up to 20 Inuit employees from Kugluktuk, Nunavut on a rotational basis. Moreover, the company provided helicopter support for the government Bear and Wolverine Monitoring programs conducted by the Nunavut Wildlife department in the area south of Kugluktuk.

The Company is continuing the policy of hiring local Inuit to complement the field crews and the maximizing of purchases of local supplies and services from Kugluktuk. The contribution to the ecological surveys being conducted by the Nunavut Wildlife Department will continue in 2008 and be expanded to include assistance for a new initiative by the Wildlife Officer to study the local vegetation. The Company’s participation in these surveys will be of great significance when the necessity for baseline environmental data becomes a requirement.

During the 2007 exploration season, the company estimates that it spent/injected upwards of $750,000 into the Inuit community through wages and purchases. In 2008, the number could be even higher.

Clearly, UNOR is aware of the incredible location benefit the company's claims are sitting on, especially when considering the regulatory headaches most other uranium mining companies face worldwide.

At the end of the day, UNOR is in the right place, at the right time, with the right people.

 

Copyright 2008 © UNOR Inc.
LIMITED LICENSE
Permission to use the Information available within the UNORINC.com website is granted for all media redistribution uses, provided that no Information available from the UNORINC.com website is modified in any way.