This graphic shows the production levels of the largest mines in the world in 2022 and their share of the total global production.
In 2022, the largest amount of uranium was produced by the Cigar Lake mine, 6,928 tonnes of uranium, representing 14% of the total production for that year. Cigar Lake, the world's highest-grade uranium mine, is located in northern Saskatchewan, Canada, and operated by Cameco. Since its commissioning in 2014, the site has produced a total of 105 million pounds of uranium (on a 100% basis). Commercial operations began in May 2015.
The second largest mine is The Husab Mine. The Husab Mine operated under the Husab Uranium Project, is a uranium mine near the town of Swakopmund in the Erongo region of western-central Namibia. It produced 3,358 tonnes Uranium, representing 7% of world production.
Number three on the list is Inkai, located in the South Kazakhstan Region of Kazakhstan. It is owned 40% by Cameco and 60% by Kazatomprom, which is majority-owned by the Kazakh government. It produced 3,201 tonnes Uranium in 2022, which represented approximately 7% of world production.
Mine | Country | Mine | Country | Main owner | Type | Production (tonnes U) | % of world | Main owner | Type | Production (tonnes U) |
Cigar Lake | Canada | Cigar Lake | Canada | Cameco/Orano | underground | 6928 | 14 | Cameco/Orano | underground | 6928 |
Husab | Namibia | Husab | Namibia | Swakop Uranium (CGN) | open pit | 3358 | 7 | Swakop Uranium (CGN) | open pit | 3358 |
Inkai, sites 1-3 | Kazakhstan | Inkai, sites 1-3 | Kazakhstan | Kazatomprom/Cameco | ISL | 3201 | 7 | Kazatomprom/Cameco | ISL | 3201 |
Olympic Dam | Australia | Olympic Dam | Australia | BHP Billiton | by-product/underground | 2813 | 6 | BHP Billiton | by-product/underground | 2813 |
Karatau (Budenovskoye 2) | Kazakhstan | Karatau (Budenovskoye 2) | Kazakhstan | Uranium One/Kazatomprom | ISL | 2560 | 5 | Uranium One/Kazatomprom | ISL | 2560 |
Rössing | Namibia | Rössing | Namibia | CNNC | open pit | 2255 | 5 | CNNC | open pit | 2255 |
SOMAIR | Niger | SOMAIR | Niger | Orano | open pit | 2020 | 4 | Orano | open pit | 2020 |
Four Mile | Australia | Four Mile | Australia | Quasar | ISL | 1740 | 3 | Quasar | ISL | 1740 |
Central Mynkuduk | Kazakhstan | Central Mynkuduk | Kazakhstan | Ortalyk | ISL | 1650 | 3 | Ortalyk | ISL | 1650 |
South Inkai 4 | Kazakhstan | South Inkai 4 | Kazakhstan | Uranium One/Kazatomprom | ISL | 1600 | 3 | Uranium One/Kazatomprom | ISL | 1600 |
Top 10 total | Top 10 total | 28,125 | 57% | 28,125 |
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