Project for the Definitive Restoration of the Mining Works at Saelices El Chico (Salamanca)

Works at the uranium deposits in Saelices El Chico in the province of Salamanca began in 1954 and continued until 2000. During this period, the mining activities provided almost 5,700 of uranium concentrates.

A year after the activities had concluded, restoration work began on the leaching beds and on dismantling of the Elefante Plant. Both of these activities were completed in 2004, but in parallel the Project for the Definitive Restoration of the site was initiated, this encompassing other affected spaces over an area of 300 hectares.

The environmental restoration of the deposits and rubble tips, along with the implementation of a multi-layer protective covering over the restored areas, meant the moving of 19 million cubic metres of earth.

The aims of the project are as follows:

• The recovery of the zone from the point of view of geomorphology, hydraulics and plant life, restoring the topography to recreate the original appearance of the site, ensuring the long-term stability of the remaining structures and protecting the area against erosion by means of multiple layers of feldspar sandstone or arkose, mining tailings and topsoil.
• Improvement of the quality of waters in the basin, managing the stored waters by means of treatment and discharge with a view to their complete elimination.
• Reduction of radiological impact on the remaining installations.
• Integration into the surrounding landscape through the recovery of tree and plant species.

The dismantling and restoration of the Quercus plant now remains pending.