UDK 622.343.4:504.06:614.876(477)
Ratushniuk L. А., Dudar Т. V.
Ratushniuk L. А., Master of the Department of Ecology, State University “Kyiv Aviation Institute”, ORCID: 0009-0000-3290-8169, lesia.ratushniuk02@gmail.com
Dudar T.V., Dr.Eng.Sc., Head of the Environmental Sciences Department, Professor, State University “Kyiv Aviation Institute”, ORCID 0000-0003-3114-9732, tamara.dudar@npp.kai.edu.ua
DOI: 122-125
Pages: 10.15407/conference.geointegration.122
ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF URANIUM DEPOSITS CONSERVATION IN UKRAINE
Abstract. Ukraine’s uranium industry has undergone a complex evolution shaped by geopolitical dynamics and shifts in national energy security priorities. The conservation of uranium deposits has become a pressing issue following the depletion of reserves and economic inefficiency of certain sites. This paper examines the technological and environmental aspects of uranium deposit conservation in Ukraine, focusing on the stability of mine workings, radionuclide migration control, and ecological safety. Particular attention is given to challenges associated with in-situ leaching methods, including groundwater contamination risks and neutralization of residual acidic or alkaline solutions. The study highlights the significance of radioecological monitoring, soil and water protection, and legislative regulation in ensuring sustainable post-mining management. Drawing on international experience, the research emphasizes the necessity of interdisciplinary approaches, long-term monitoring systems, and sustainable management of uranium mining legacies to balance environmental safety with the preservation of Ukraine’s strategic mineral resource base.Improving national legislation, adopting international best practices, and ensuring continuous environmental monitoring are essential for sustainable post-mining management. Conservation should be regarded as a stage of responsible resource use, aimed at minimizing ecological risks and supporting the long-term safety of both the environment and population.
Keywords. uranium industry; deposit conservation; environmental safety; in-situ leaching; reclamation; radioactive waste management; Ukraine.
References
- Bakarzhiiev, A.Kh. & Lysenko, O.A. (2018) ‘History of the Formation of the Uranium Raw Material Base of Ukraine’, Mineral Resources of Ukraine, 1, pp. 4–14.
- Dudar, T.V., Vitko, V.I. & Kovalenko, H.D. (2022) ‘Dust Pollution and Assessment of Dose Loads from Uranium Mining Waste Dumps’, Scientific and Technical Journal, 1(21), pp. 49–56.
- Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (2013) Energy Strategy of Ukraine until 2030, approved by Resolution No. 1071 dated 24 July 2013. Available at: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1071-2013-р
- Shatalov, M.M. (2015) ‘Uranium of the Subsurface of Ukraine: Uranium Geochemistry and the History of the Formation of the Mineral Resource Base’, Bulletin of the NAS of Ukraine, 10, pp. 50–59.