Restarted Namibian mine transitions to commercial operation
02 April 2024
Paladin Energy has announced the first commercial production from the Langer Heinrich uranium mine since operations were suspended at the Namibian project in 2018.
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The first drummed uranium from the restarted Langer Heinrich (Image: X/Paladin Energy)
Paladin launched the project to return the mine to production in 2022, and the first ore was fed to the processing plant on 20 January this yea. The company has now announced that "uranium concentrate production and drumming" were achieved on 30 March. The focus will now shift to production ramp-up and building a finished product inventory, ahead of shipments to customers, it said.
"Achieving first production at the Langer Heinrich Mine is an important milestone for Paladin," said CEO Ian Purdy. "I would like to thank all our staff and contractors for their hard work and dedication in returning this globally significant uranium mine to production. I would also like to thank the Namibian Government and our local communities in the Erongo region for their continued support."
As part of the transition to production, Paladin Chief Operating Officer Paul Hemburrow will assume responsibility for all of the mine's activities.
Langer Heinrich is in central western Namibia, about 80 km east of Swakopmund. According to Paladin, which acquired the project in 2002, it produced over 43 million pounds U3O8 (16,540 tU) over 10 years of operations, and is projected to produce over 77 million pounds U3O8 over a future mine life of 17 years. The project is 75%-owned by Western Australia-based Paladin, with China National Nuclear Corporation subsidiary CNNC Overseas Uranium Holding Limited owning a 25% interest.
Paladin said it will provide guidance for key FY2025 operational parameters for the mine in July.
Researched and written by World Nuclear News