French uranium giant targets 15,000km² exploration

Senior officials confirmed to BusinessWeek that the group, which is 90% owned by the French government, is moving ahead with various activities geared at kickstarting exploration activities in the country.

“Orano has submitted applications for exploration permits in the Ghanzi District to the Department of Mines of the Ministry of Minerals and Energy of Botswana,” Gwénaël Thomas, Orano’s press office manager said in a written response on Tuesday. “A total of 15 exploration permits located in the Gantsi district, covering an area of 15,000km², are currently under review. “The first exploration operations will begin as soon as the necessary authorisations have been granted by the administrative authorities.”