As requirements for managing NORM become continuously tougher GeoEnergy Consult supports affected mining & processing projects to get permitted and efficiently operating.

Practically speaking, NORM are natural radioactive residues, which accumulate during certain industrial activities including mining & processing of rare-earths. Also uranium is and even apparently non-radioactive commodities like phosphates, tantalum, gold, copper, aluminum etc. are potentially affected, if associated with NORM mineralization.

Key for success of affected projects to get permitted and efficiently operating is to overcome the specific challenges, which result from contained uranium and thorium as well as from their decay products like radium and radon, most notably:

o    Radiological safety of staff and public
o    Prevention of site/facility contamination
o    Prevention of liability risks etc.

Regulations for the safe management of NORM can vary from country to country concerning e.g. applicable limit values, specific requirements for disposal etc. However, national NORM regulations are based on universal standards of international bodies.

Throughout the life-cycle of NORM affected projects and operations specific advice is particularly important for:

- Operators: key challenge is employing capable solutions; only then responsible  

  regulators can be convinced of permitting the proposed realisation.
- Investors: through analysis of the feasibility of planned solutions for managing NORM we

  assess the projects’ worthiness to invest in (hidden technical risks, permitting likely,  

  modification indicated?).

- Regulators: the importance of mining & processing e.g. for national economies cannot 

  be overestimated; however, benefits might be only temporary and projects could turn into

  legacies, if NORM is managed inappropriately.

Over the past years certain NORM affected projects did not receive the necessary permits, because they failed to demonstrate the capability for encountering the requirements of very future project phases: even ahead of operation regulators may require e.g. a preliminary closure plan as precondition for permitting a project.

While fundamentally we provide consultancy advice e.g. by assessing the feasibility of technical options or developing their conceptual design, optionally we can support with engineering and realisation of developed solutions as well. As the management of NORM is seldomly available "off-the-shelf", we customize developed solutions according to specific needs.

The mentioned general development towards more and more tougher NORM requirements might be driven by the insistent request of public, states and institutions for improved sustainability and ESG. Moreover, sustainably mined & processed raw materials might be preferred by regulators as adverse side-effects could be avoided and legacies prevented. Also for the public those might be better acceptable.

In the end the sustainability pressure turns into competitive advantage. That means that solutions which reflect sustainability expectations become more and more crucial – and projects, which contribute to that might be more successful than others which do not. Therefore, the overall request for sustainability should be regarded not as burden, but as chance.

See here what we can do for you.