Progress in Russia's Khilonduevskoye Uranium Deposit Development: 3 Kilometers of Mine Workings Completed Ahead of Schedule

The mining division of Russia's Rosatom recently announced that underground mining crews completed three kilometers of mine workings ahead of schedule during the development of the Khilonduevskoye deposit. This milestone, originally planned for completion on August 10, was achieved by a team of workers from the Priargunsky Industrial Mining and Chemical Union (PIMCU), which is part of Rosatom Nedra.

According to PIMCU, this mine connection will significantly optimize the ventilation system at the fourth level of the Khilonduevskoye deposit and improve the efficiency of rock block loading, laying the foundation for subsequent development work. The company's CEO, Ivan Kiselev, stated that this connection is of critical importance to the company, as it not only links two sections of the mine but also fundamentally transforms the logistics and safety of fourth-level operations.

The Khilonduevskoye molybdenum-uranium deposit is located in the Streltsovsky uranium ore district, 8 kilometers north of the city of Krasnokamensk in the Trans-Baikal Territory. Rosatom Nedra obtained an operating license for the deposit in February 2025. The deposit has proven uranium reserves of 8,000 tonnes in C1/C2 categories, as well as molybdenum reserves.

Rosatom Nedra considers the development of the Khilonduevskoye deposit a key milestone for Russia's uranium mining industry, as its mineral resource base will not only support planned uranium production but also ensure the long-term development of Krasnokamensk — a city known as Russia's "uranium capital." The company plans to begin extracting approximately 400 tonnes of uranium from the deposit in 2028 and to restart the Elkonsky project, which currently holds Russia's largest uranium reserves.