PRODUCTION YEAR BY YEAR AND CALCULATION METHODOLOGY
8.1 Initial Situation (1945)
In 1945, only three mines were in operation, of which just two were actively producing ore. Together they employed approximately 120 workers. Technical equipment was inadequate, and the infrastructure had been damaged by the war.
8.2 Growth Dynamics
1946 – approximately 18 tonnes of uranium
1947 – significant increase (tens of tonnes)
1948 – further growth associated with centralization
1949 – approximately 100 tonnes
1950–1953 – rapid expansion of production
1955 – peak uranium output reached
1957 – peak volume of mining operations
The total amount of material extracted between 1945 and 1956 is estimated at just under 50,000 tonnes, although some sources cite figures as high as 80,000 tonnes.
8.3 Why Do the Figures Differ?
The discrepancy between 50,000 and 80,000 tonnes results from several factors:
Whether only the metallic uranium content (U) is counted or the ore as a whole.
Whether uranium concentrates are included.
Whether production from the Horní Slavkov region and other areas operated by the same enterprise is included.
Different methodologies for converting production figures into U₃O₈ content.
The substantial variation is therefore not necessarily the result of inaccurate data but rather of differing definitions and calculation methods.
8.4 Comparison with the German Period
While German uranium production reached a maximum of approximately 11 tonnes per year, post-war production was many times higher. The difference resulted from:
• massive mobilization of the workforce
• planned increases in production quotas
• extensive investment in infrastructure
• the use of forced labor
