China’s “Guo You Yi Hao” Uranium Project Just Went Live: A Game-Changer for Global Energy

“`html

Key Points

  • The “Guo You Yi Hao” (国铀一号) project in Ordos (E’erduosi 鄂尔多斯) City, Inner Mongolia, is China’s largest, highest-standard, and most technologically advanced natural uranium production base.
  • It achieved production in just one year since construction began on July 12, 2024, setting a new record for speed on a project of this scale.
  • The project utilized advanced technologies like “digital well construction” and remote intelligent control systems for sandstone uranium in-situ leaching (ISL) mining.
  • These innovations have led to the uranium leaching efficiency more than doubling and enabled “one-click uranium extraction” from a distance.
  • “Guo You Yi Hao” represents China’s strategic shift to Northern sandstone uranium deposits, with the Ordos (E’erduosi 鄂尔多斯) Basin now being the nation’s largest uranium resource base, holding over 2.8 million tons of forecast uranium resources.
Decorative Image

China’s largest natural uranium project, “Guo You Yi Hao” (国铀一号), just shocked the industry by producing its first batch of uranium product, marking a massive leap forward in the country’s energy independence strategy.

This isn’t just another mine.

Happening in Ordos (E’erduosi 鄂尔多斯) City, Inner Mongolia, this milestone kicks off a new era of green, safe, and hyper-efficient uranium development for China.

It’s a huge deal for ensuring the country’s national energy security and provides a powerful foundation for its booming nuclear industry.

Simply put, this move dramatically boosts the international competitiveness of China’s natural uranium sector.

Guo You Yi Hao Project Key Milestones
MilestoneDate/TimelineSignificance
Construction StartJuly 12, 2024Official commencement of the project.
First Uranium ProductionWithin 1 year of constructionRecord-breaking speed for a project of this scale.
Operational StatusCurrently operationalChina’s largest, highest-standard, most technologically advanced natural uranium production base.
Key Innovations & Outcomes
  • Digital Well Construction: Advanced technique for precise well development.
  • Remote Intelligent Control Systems: Enabled “one-click uranium extraction” from a distance.
  • Doubled Leaching Efficiency: Significant improvement in uranium extraction from ore.
  • Improved Resource Recovery Rates: Maximizing yield from deposits.

“Guo You Yi Hao”: The New Benchmark in Uranium Production

Natural uranium is the essential fuel for the nuclear industry. Finding it and processing it is the first critical step in the entire nuclear fuel cycle.

The “Guo You Yi Hao” (国铀一号) Demonstration Project is now officially China’s:

  • Largest natural uranium production base.
  • Highest-standard facility.
  • Most technologically advanced operation.

What’s even more wild is the speed.

Construction kicked off on July 12, 2024, and they were producing uranium in just one year.

This shatters the previous record for construction speed on a project of this scale in China.

Resume Captain Logo

Resume Captain

Your AI Career Toolkit:

  • AI Resume Optimization
  • Custom Cover Letters
  • LinkedIn Profile Boost
  • Interview Question Prep
  • Salary Negotiation Agent
Get Started Free
Decorative Image

The Tech That’s Doubling Efficiency: “One-Click Uranium Extraction”

So, how did they do it?

The project team crushed several major technical hurdles associated with sandstone uranium in-situ leaching (ISL) mining.

ISL is a more modern, less invasive mining method where they essentially pump a solution underground to dissolve the uranium and then pump the uranium-rich solution back to the surface. It’s greener and often cheaper than traditional open-pit mining.

The specific challenges they solved were tough nuts to crack:

  • Dealing with strong reducing ore bodies in thick ore-bearing aquifers.
  • Extracting from deposits that were low-grade but highly permeable.
  • Mastering the regeneration of the leaching flow fields.

To overcome this, they developed groundbreaking new technologies like “digital well construction” and remote intelligent control systems.

The results are staggering:

  • Uranium leaching efficiency more than doubled.
  • They can now achieve “one-click uranium extraction from a thousand miles away.”
  • Resource recovery rates have improved significantly.

Comparison: Traditional vs. Sandstone Uranium Deposits in China
FeatureTraditional Deposits (Volcanic/Granite)Northern Sandstone Deposits
Primary LocationSouthern ChinaNorthern China (e.g., Ordos Basin)
TypeVolcanic and Granite-typeSandstone-type
Exploration FocusHistorical focus for decadesBreakthroughs in last 20 years, current strategic focus
Resource PotentialSignificant, but less primary focus nowVast majority of 2.8+ million tons forecast uranium resources
Mining Method (Guo You Yi Hao)Traditional methods often usedAdvanced ISL (In-Situ Leaching) technology
Decorative Image

The Big Pivot: Why China is Betting on Northern Sandstone Uranium

This new project is part of a much larger strategic shift in China’s resource exploration.

For decades, China’s uranium mining was concentrated on volcanic and granite-type deposits, primarily in the southern parts of the country.

But over the last 20 years, geologists have made massive breakthroughs in exploring northern sandstone-type uranium deposits.

This culminated in a huge announcement in 2023, when China revealed ten major uranium exploration achievements.

The forecast? Over 2.8 million tons of uranium resources, with the vast majority located in these northern sandstone deposits.

And the new epicenter of China’s uranium ambitions is the Ordos (E’erduosi 鄂尔多斯) Basin, which has now officially become the nation’s largest uranium resource base.

This project isn’t just a single win; it’s the first major public result of a deliberate, long-term strategy to secure a domestic supply chain for a critical energy resource.

By bringing the “Guo You Yi Hao” uranium project online with record speed and next-gen tech, China is sending a clear signal about its commitment to nuclear power and energy security.

TeamedUp China Logo

Find Top Talent on China's Leading Networks

  • Post Across China's Job Sites from $299 / role, or
  • Hire Our Recruiting Pros from $799 / role
  • - - - - - - - -
  • Qualified Candidate Bundles
  • Lower Hiring Costs by 80%+
  • Expert Team Since 2014
Get 25% Off
Your First Job Post
Decorative Image

References

“`

In this article
Scroll to Top