New Uranium Mining Projects - Namibia 
(last updated 21 Aug 2008)
Contents:
The following companies are performing uranium prospection and/or exploration in Namibia:
Extract Resources Limited 
,
Kalahari Minerals Plc ,
West Africa Gold Exploration (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd ,
Forsys Metals Corp.,
Westport Resources Namibia (Pty) Ltd.,
Dunefield Mining Company,
Ancash Investments (Pty.) Ltd.,
Galahad Gold Plc ,
Paladin Resources Ltd,
Rössing Uranium Ltd,
Uramin Inc.,
Namura Mineral Resources (Proprietary) Limited ,
Xemplar Energy Corp. ,
Metals Australia Ltd ,
Bannerman Resources Limited ,
West Australian Metals Ltd ,
Cheetah Minerals Exploration,
Corporate & Resource Consultants Pty Ltd ,
Etruscan Resources Namibia ,
Nam-China Minerals and Development,
Namibia Mineral Mining Plants and Products,
New Mining Company,
Philco Twenty (Pty) Ltd,
Reptile Investment Four,
Jaco Floris Smith,
Nova Energy Ltd.,
Pitchstone Exploration Ltd. ,
Manica Minerals Ltd.,
Erongo Energy Ltd ,
Atomredmetzoloto OJSC
800 MW coal power plant planned to supply Namibian uranium mines
Namibia's national power utility is planning an 800 MW coal-fired power plant to supply a growing demand for electricity from uranium mines, reports said on June 18, 2008.
A report from a consultant Ninham Shand Consulting Services, hired by the power utility to carry out a feasibility study for the envisaged power plant, said the coal-fired 800 MW plant would supply power to the booming uranium sector.
"The west coast of Namibia is experiencing significant economic growth in the Erongo region, mainly as a result of industrial developments related to uranium exploration and mining," Ninham Shandi, a South Africa-based consultant firm, said.
The plant will have a coal stock yard, ash-disposal facility and transport system, to deliver coal and potentially seawater to and from the plant.
An 800 megawatt facility would consume as much as 2.4 million metric tonnes of coal annually, the report said.
Namibia is Africa's top uranium producer, followed by Niger and South Africa in third place.
A biting power shortage has, however, raised fears that some mining projects could be put on hold.
(Panapress June 19, 2008)
Russia's Atomredmetzoloto to start uranium prospecting in Klein Spitzkoppe area, Namibia
Russia's leading uranium mining company, Atomredmetzoloto, a subsidiary of state nuclear power company Atomenergoprom, said on June 2, 2008, it intends to start uranium prospecting in Namibia in the third quarter of 2008.
Atomredmetzoloto intends to set up a joint venture with a subsidiary of Russia's second largest bank VTB, VTB Capital Namibia, and investment company Arlan, with headquarters in Namibia.
Arlan will hold 75% minus one share in the JV, while Atomredmetzoloto and VTB Capital Namibia will possess 25% plus one share, Atomenergoprom said in a news release.
Atomenergoprom, set up in 2007, became a part of state nuclear power corporation Rosatom in February 2008.
Atomredmetzoloto will prepare a feasibility study and act as the project's manager, while VTB's subsidiary will contribute two uranium prospecting licenses to the JV. Arlan will provide funds for the project, with initial investment estimated at $4.5 million, the news release said.
The JV will carry out prospecting in the promising Klein Spitzkoppe area of southwestern Namibia. Prospecting is expected to last two or three years, and yield uranium reserves of at least 5,000 tons, the news release said.
(RIA Novosti June 2, 2008)
Namibia to build second desalination plant for uranium mines
The Namibian government has set up a joint ministerial task force to prepare a detailed project proposal for a government funded water desalination plant in the Erongo region, as it kickstarts the first phase of its bulk water supply programme.
Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry John Mutorwa said on Aug. 21, 2008, that the task force comprised of officials from the finance ministry, ministry of justice, national planning commission (NPC) and Namwater and had been mandated to come up with a viable plan on setting up of the desalination plant to cater for domestic as well as industrial water supply in the dry Erongo region.
Initial estimates of the costs of the desalination plant are around R1 billion, said ministry officials.
Andrew Ndishishi, permanent secretary in the ministry of agriculture and water,
said that government would have to come up with a funding mechanism to speed up the implementation of the project, which converts the salty, ocean water to fresh water.
The government-funded desalination plant is the second being planned in Namibia after uranium firm, UraMin, announced the start of the construction of a plant to supply water to uranium mines.
The government said its plant would produce 90 million cubic metres of desalinated sea water, double the size of the UraMin plant.
"The plant would be large enough to supply the whole of the coastal region, the mines in the desert and it's our answer to future water supply problems," Ndishishi said.
(Pana Aug. 21, 2008)
Namibia Water Corp. , the state-owned water utility, plans to build a second desalination plant to cater for increasing demand for water from existing and planned uranium mines.
The facility will be built on Namibia's Atlantic coastline at a cost of 1.5 billion Namibian dollars ($192.1 million), Chief Executive Officer Vaino Shivute told reporters. The plant is expected to be commissioned in 2010 and will have the capacity to pump 25 million cubic meters of water a year.
NamWater is already building a desalination plant jointly with Uramin, which is expected to be commissioned at the end of 2009. The facility will have the capacity to pump 20 million cubic meters a year and serve Uramin's Trekkopje project.
(Bloomberg, April 3, 2008)
India seeks uranium from Namibia
In its global search for fuel to enhance nuclear power generation, India on Mar. 27, 2008, asked Namibia to supply uranium from its vast reserves.
India's request was conveyed to Namibian Prime Minister Nahas Angula by Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh, who called on him here.
"India and Namibia could explore a long-term relationship in uranium," Ramesh said after his meeting with Angula.
Namibia, which is not a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), has 8-9 per cent of the world's uranium resources. It can help India in meeting its energy requirements, he said.
(The Hindu Mar. 27, 2008)
NamPower urges freeze on new mines over regional energy crunch
Namibia's state electricity utility NamPower advised putting major investment projects on ice because of the energy crisis that continues to cast a shadow over the region.
In a blow for the desert country's burgeoning uranium mining industry Nampower's chief operating officer Bertholdt Mbuere Ua Mbuere said all new mines would have to wait until at least 2009 to get power.
Excluded from that proviso was Uramin, a subsidiary of French nuclear giant Areva, that aims to begin large-scale uranium production near Swakopmund by end 2008.
(DPA Jan. 22, 2008)
Japanese company willing to develop uranium mine in Namibia
Chief Executive Officer of Itochu Corporation , a Japanese trading company that has recently acquired a 20 percent equity holding in the Kudu Gas project, Yoshio Matsukawa, has expressed willingness to develop a new uranium mine in Namibia.
(New Era July 24, 2007)
Russian firms sign memorandum to produce uranium in Namibia
Vneshtorgbank (VTB) and Techsnabexport have signed a memorandum of cooperation to invest in uranium prospecting and production in Namibia.
The government-controlled bank and the state-run nuclear exporter are considering the establishment of a joint venture to operate in the southern African state, under licenses they already hold and through investment in other companies involved in similar activities in the country.
(RIA Novosti May 14, 2007)
Russian companies form Joint Venture to produce uranium in Namibia
Russia's Techsnabexport , Renova and Vneshtorgbank have established a joint venture to produce uranium in Namibia, the head of the Russian nuclear agency said.
"Our enterprises - Renova and Vneshtorgbank - already hold licenses to produce uranium in Namibia. We agreed to found a joint venture to prospect and produce uranium," Sergei Kiriyenko said after a meeting with Namibia's president, Hifikepunye Pohamba.
Russian Natural Resources Minister Yury Trutnev said Renova had won a tender to develop two uranium deposits in Namibia, whereas Russia's state-run foreign-trade bank Vneshtorgbank had received its license earlier.
(RIA Novosti Feb. 23, 2007)
On Dec. 6, 2007, Extract Resources Ltd. announced that through a Memorandum of Understanding, NamWater has undertaken to develop a desalination capacity that will supply at least 4 million cubic meters of desalinated water per annum to the Ida Dome Mine by March 2011.
On Oct. 19, 2007, Extract Resources Ltd. announced the receipt of a positive preliminary scoping study for the Ida Dome prospect within its Husab property, although to date there has been insufficient exploration to define a Mineral Resource (!).
Goanikontes deposit data
Bannerman Resources commissions Full Feasibility Study for Goanikontes uranium mine project
On May 20, 2008, Bannerman Resources Ltd announced that a contract has been awarded to the engineering construction company GRD Minproc, a subsidiary of GRD Limited, to produce a Full Feasibility Study (FFS) for the development of a uranium mine at the Goanikontes Anomaly A project in Namibia.
Scoping study confirms viability of large scale uranium mine at Goanikontes deposit
On Sep. 17, 2007, Bannerman Resources announced that it has received the results of a detailed scoping study into the economic viability of its Goanikontes Anomaly A uranium Project located in Namibia. "The study has confirmed that, subject to the delineation of the target resource base, a viable operation with strong cash margins could be developed."
The uranium ore would be mined in a conventional open pit at a rate of 15 million t per year. Annual production would be between 2900 and 4000 t U3O8, with a mine life of 12 to 15+ years. Target commissioning date is late 2010, full production would be achieved by mid 2011.
Bannerman expedites mining studies for Goanikontes project
On May 8, 2007, Bannerman Resources Ltd. has confirmed its intention to expedite studies into the development of its Goanikontes uranium project in Namibia.
A scoping study on the project commenced on May 7, 2007.
Trekkopje deposit data
License granted for Trekkopje uranium mine
On June 17, 2008, Namibia's mining ministry granted the license for Trekkopje, some 300 kilometres (190 miles) west of the capital Windhoek, said Iain McPherson, manager of Areva's local subsidiary UraMin.
Construction for the 750 million dollar (483 million euros) project would begin immediately, he said.
"Production is planned towards the end of 2009," he added. "We will process 100,000 tonnes of ore per day to extract about six to eight million pounds of uranium per annum [2308 - 3077 t U/a]."
Trekkopje will be the largest uranium mine in the world, McPherson said, creating jobs for some 800 people. The mine will have a lifespan of some nine years.
(AFP June 18, 2008)
Trekkopje uranium mine to open in July 2008
UraMin will open its uranium mine at Trekkopje in July 2008, Managing Director Bert Leathley said this week. The firm expects to export its first yellow cake at the end of 2009 through Walvis Bay, Leathley told the Economist. He said US$920 million will be spent on capital expenses to bring the mine into production. The company expects to produce 8.5 million pounds of uranium oxide [3269 t U] per year, making it Namibia's biggest uranium mine.
Leathley however said that the export markets for the uranium oxide were yet to be confirmed.
The firm was currently in discussions with NamPower over power supply, he said. NamPower is faced with a deficit in supply and recent press reports have indicated that power supply to new mines may only be available in 2009.
Leathley also said the desalination plant, which is being jointly built with NamWater, will be completed in the second quarter of 2009.
(The Namibia Economist Feb. 15, 2008)
Lichen fields at risk from pipeline required for Trekkopje uranium mine project
The pipeline that will connect the proposed Trekkopje uranium mine to the desalination plant planned at Wlotzkasbaken will traverse unique lichen fields only found in this area. Prof. Dr. Norbert Juergens, head of the BIOTA-Africa Project , raised concern about the future of the worldwide unique lichen fields. Juergens demanded that the new environmental law rather must assure the sustainability of the lichen fields.
(Allgemeine Zeitung Dec. 20, 2007)
China's global quest to secure uranium supplies received a boost when Areva , the French nuclear company, agreed to supply African uranium for at least the next 14 years.
Areva will also build, operate and supply two nuclear reactors in the southern province of Guangdong.
The $12 billion deal with state-owned China Guangdong Nuclear Power Corp (CGNPC) included at least 23,000 tonnes of uranium on top of an annual supply of about 600 tonnes to the two reactors.
Under the deal CGNPC agreed to buy 35 per cent of the uranium production of UraMin, a Canadian mining company with uranium deposits in South Africa, Namibia and Central African Republic, which Areva bought in September 2007 for $2.5 billion.
(Financial Times Nov. 26, 2007)
Areva signs contract on construction of desalination plant for Trekkopje mine project - even before environmental assessment and feasibility studies concluded
On Nov. 23, 2007, Namibia's water utility Namwater and UraMin signed an agreement to build a 250 million Namibian dollar (nearly US$40 million) sea water intake and brine disposal pipeline to support a 715 million Namibian dollar (US$110 million) sea water desalination facility. It will be located in the coastal town of Swakopmund.
"The facility will supply water to UraMin's proposed Trekkopje mine as well as to Namwater's clients in the coastal areas of Namibia," Vaino Shivute, chief executive officer of the water utility, told reporters.
Shivute said they expect to produce 45 million cubic meter of water a year, with 25 million cubic meters earmarked for Namwater clients and the rest going to UraMin, whose uranium mine is expected to come on line in early 2008.
(AP Nov. 23, 2007)
Areva has no scruples about taking advantage of Namibia's very special regulatory regime: Draft Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Report for Trekkopje Uranium Project available for comment - for just two weeks
The mine is to work the Klein Trekkopje deposit which is approximately 15 km long by between 1 and 3 km wide and is located in the Namib desert 35 km north of the Rössing mine. The deposit is located at very shallow depth; it extends to a maximum depth of 30 m and is covered with a layer of topsoil and overburden that is just 1 m to 2 m thick.
The proven and probable reserves are 49,952 t eU3O8 [42,359 t eU] at a grade of 126 ppm eU3O8 [107 ppm eU] - that is less than half of the grade at the Rössing mine.
Ore is to be mined from the open pit at a rate of 100,000 tonnes per day.
The ore is crushed and then stacked on a heap leach pad with a capacity of 30 million t of ore and covering an area of 2.2 square kilometers, where it is leached with a sodium carbonate/bicarbonate solution. After leaching, the spent ore is placed on waste dumps and/or back in the pits, and fresh ore is placed on the heap leach pad.
The mining and processing cost is estimated at US$ 55.00 per lb eU3O8 produced.
The mine will require 20 million cubic meters of water per year which is to be supplied by a desalination plant to be built at the coast at Wlotzkasbaken.
The closing date for comments is 30 November 2007.
> Download:
- Report of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Trekkopje Uranium Project, Erongo Region, Namibia, Draft for Public Review, November 2007: Uramin Inc. or Turgis Consulting (Pty) Ltd
- Report of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Trekkopje Desalination Project, Erongo Region, Namibia, Draft for Public Review, November 2007: Turgis Consulting (Pty) Ltd
Concerns raised over proposed desalination plant for Trekkopje uranium mine project
In a convention held in Swakopmund by Turgis Consulting (Pty) Ltd on Aug. 24, 2007, citizens raised their concerns over the proposed desalination plant for the Trekkopje uranium mine project. The concerns included the availability of power for the plant, the plant location near the protected lichen fields, the cumulative impact of any further desalination plants necessary for up to eight further uranium mines proposed in the area.
(Allgemeine Zeitung Aug. 8, 2007)
Earlier, the Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resources had called for an analysis of the impact of the plant's brine releases on the aquaculture planned in the area. Environmentalists feared the pipeline would present a barrier to game migration in the area; they demanded that at least parts of it be buried in the ground.
(Allgemeine Zeitung Aug. 23, 2007)
Uramin invites tenders for construction of desalination plant for proposed Trekkopje mine
Uramin Inc. is inviting tenders for construction of a desalination plant to be built near Wlotzkasbaken. The plant is required for Uramin's proposed Trekkopje uranium mine (for which no mining license has been issued yet).
(Allgemeine Zeitung June 27, 2007)
Uramin plans to use in-pit heap-leaching for mining of Trekkopje deposit
In its Preliminary Assessment of April 26, 2007, Uramin discloses the proposed mining and ore processing scheme for the Trekkopje mine: Uramin wants to mine the ore in open pits, crush it, and then place it back in the pit for acidic and/or basic heap leaching.
> Download Preliminary Assessment of April 26, 2007 (2.6M PDF) (SEDAR)
Desalination plant for Trekkopje uranium mine project required
Namwater cannot supply sufficient amounts of water for the Trekkopje uranium mine project. Therefore, Uramin plans to build a 15 million cubic meter per year desalination plant near Wlotzkasbaken at the coast.
(Allgemeine Zeitung April 5, 2007)
Trekkopje project update
Trekkopje, estimated to cost $500 million to build, is due to advance to trial mining in 2007 and to launch commercial production in late 2008. Work began in March 2007 on a 60000-ton heap leach pilot project.
Production is expected to start at 4.2-million pounds (1615 t U) in 2009 and rise to full production of 8.4-million pounds (3231 t U) a year by 2011.
(Business Day March 30, 2007)
Uramin starts environmental impact study of Trekkopje uranium mine project
On Dec. 12, 2006, Uramin said it had started a mandatory environmental impact study of the Trekkopje uranium mine project.
Uramin planned to dig the Trekkopje mine by 2011, ahead of projects in South Africa and the Central African Republic, it said.
Trekkopje would produce uranium for 15 years and employ 120 workers.
(Business Report Dec. 13, 2006)
Exploration licences granted for the Trekkopje Uranium Project
On 23 November 2006, UraMin Inc announced that the Ministry of Mines and Energy in Namibia has formally granted two exploration licences for the Trekkopje Uranium Project.
Bankable Feasibility Study on Trekkopje uranium project started
On June 13, 2006, UraMin announced that SRK Consulting (US) Inc. ("SRK") has begun a Bankable Feasibility Study ("BFS") on the Trekkopje uranium project in Namibia. SRK envisage completion of the BFS in the second half of 2007 at an estimated cost of US$7 million.
UraMin raises money for Trekkopje uranium mine project
UraMin Namibia (Pty) says it has raised US$60 million and in the process, has increased its cash holding to around US$75 million.
UraMin Namibia intends to use the money to develop the Trekkopje project. The company has started extensive drilling to verify the previous exploration results, which have been carried out by different companies since 1990. Neil Herbert, UraMin Namibia's financial director, said the feasibility programme would be completed late this year or early next year. Herbert said once the previous geological results have been satisfactorily verified, work will start to commission the new mine by 2008. The company has made a preliminary estimate that the project will require US$180 million.
(Namibia Economist May 12, 2006)
Trekkopje uranium mine project delayed
Further public meetings have been suspended until problems with the supply of electricity and water for the proposed mine have been resolved.
(Allgemeine Zeitung May 9, 2006)
Earthlife calls for more transparency in licensing process
Environmental group, Earthlife Namibia, is calling for greater public consultation between government and the citizenry before the ministry of mines and energy approves the establishment of the Trekkopje uranium mine.
Eathlife Namibia Director Berchin Kohrs told Nampa in an interview that her organization is worried about the low level of transparency and an uncomfortable air of secrecy that has recently surrounded the establishment of uranium mines in Namibia.
'We want this new mine to be transparent and to have no secrecy about their plans and operations. We do not want to see our government approving the mining licence with the same horrible speed that it did with the Langer-Heinrich mine. They must give the public a fair chance to respond to the findings of the environmental impact assessment (EIA),' said Kohrs.
She said the construction of a uranium mine anywhere in Namibia should be treated gingerly and any such mine must be seen as a national issue with consultative meetings held at all the major towns in the country.
Earthlife is also demanding that the whole uranium mining process, from construction to production and export, should be monitored by an independent expert.
'These processes should be made as transparent as possible. All the processes involved should be explained because we want to know more about the radiation exposure to workers and residents, the mining activities' impact on the quantity and quality of the water at the town (Arandis) as well as the mine's impact on the environment,' she stated.
(NAMPA March 13, 2006)
Uramin presents Preliminary Environmental Assessment
On March 6, 2006, Uramin Inc. presented the Preliminary Environmental Assessment for the Trekkopje Uranium Project at a public meeting in the mining town of Arandis. The assessment was prepared by Turgis Consulting (Pty) Ltd . The proposal foresees the mining of 40,000t ore and 10,000 t overburden per day for at least 15 years. The water supply of the proposed mine presents a major challenge. A further meeting will be held in April 2006. (Allgemeine Zeitung Mar. 6, 2006)
The meeting was attended by approx. 200 people. Proponents welcomed the project in view of the forthcoming end of the life of the nearby Rössing uranium mine. Concerns were raised regarding environmental impacts and health effects for miners and residents, but they could not be answered yet. Project Manager Daniel Limpitlaw said "We're not even at the stage of doing a pre-feasibility study yet and the extent and impact of the development can't be predicted right now."
(Namibian March 8, 2006)
Valencia deposit data
Namibia issues Mining Licence for Valencia uranium mine project
On Aug. 21, 2008, Forsys Metals Corp. announced that the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Republic of Namibia, has granted the 25 year Mining Licence No.149 to Valencia Uranium (Pty) Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Forsys, allowing full scale development of the Valencia Uranium mining operation to proceed.
Forsys receives Environmental Clearance for Valencia uranium mine project
On June 4, 2008, Forsys Metals Corp. announced the Company's approval and clearance by the Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism on both the Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") and the Environmental Management Plan ("EMP").
Forsys issues draft Environmental Impact Assessment for Valencia mine project
> Download draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the Valencia Uranium Project, April 2008: Forsys · Valencia Uranium · Digby Wells & Associates
Court upholds water permit for Valencia mine project
A bid by the owners of an Usakos area farm to prevent the company planning to develop the Valencia uranium mine from using large quantities of groundwater for the construction of the mine failed in the High Court in Windhoek on April 18, 2008.
Judge Collins Parker dismissed an urgent application that Namib Plains Farming and Tourism CC, a close corporation which owns the farm Namib Plains in an arid area some 50 kilometres southwest of Usakos, had filed against Valencia Uranium, Government, the Ministers of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Mines and Energy and Environment and Tourism, and the owner of farm Valencia two and a half weeks ago.
(Namibian Apr. 21, 2008)
Farmers challenge water permit for Valencia uranium mine in court
A decision by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry to allow a planned new uranium mine in an arid area southwest of Usakos to use large quantities of underground water is being challenged in the High Court.
The case questioning the Ministry's decision to grant water abstraction permits to Valencia Uranium was filed with the High Court on April 3, 2008.
The case was filed by Namib Plains Farming and Tourism CC, a close corporation that is the owner of farm Namib Plains, which is a portion of farm Namib Plaas and is situated about five kilometres from Valencia.
The CC wants the court to order that Valencia Uranium may not extract groundwater from the area for which it has been given water abstraction permits, and that these permits be reviewed and set aside.
(Namibian Apr. 9, 2008)
Farmers alarmed by water permit for Valencia uranium mine
Farm owners in the Valencia area in Namibia's central northwest are up in arms over Government granting Forsys Metal's Valencia Uranium project a permit to extract 1,000 cubic metres of water a day.
Although it is not a commercial farming area, there is major concern about the impact Valencia's water extraction would have on the environment and wildlife - especially in an area where ground water is scarce.
The permit can be withdrawn at any time, should the ground water level approach a critical level.
Farmers and other affected parties who have aired their concerns at several public meetings on the subject are now questioning the transparency of the shareholders.
One of their concerns is the fact that the permit is valid from the date of the last meeting held in Swakopmund on February 12, 2008.
At that meeting, it had not yet been disclosed to local people how much water the mine would need.
Pierre Botha of Water Sciences, who undertook the hydro-geological survey, said at the meeting that the water pumps for the mine were not ready and that the issue would again be discussed with local farmers when they were.
The permit was however already valid on the day he made these comments.
Initially, in April 2007, the company was quoted as saying it would require about four cubic metres of water a day during its construction phase.
This amount has gradually increased - later it was said that the mine would need about 300 cubic metres of water a day.
Now it is allowed to pump 1,000 cubic metres a day.
The affected parties say there is no meaningful data to justify this increase in demand.
(The Namibian March 7, 2008)
Valencia uranium mine project receives permit for abstraction of local ground water
On Feb. 25, 2008, Forsys Metals Corp. announced that the company has received permits for the abstraction of local ground water for the Valencia Uranium Mine from the Namibian Ministry of Agriculture Water and Forestry - Department of Water Affairs.
The permits allow the company to abstract up to 1,000 cubic meters of water per day. The company is also continuing to work with the Namibia Water Corporation Limited, the Namibia bulk water supplier, in refining the terms and conditions for the long term supply of desalinated water to Valencia.
Mining license application lodged for Valencia uranium mine project
Valencia Uranium has already lodged an application for a mining licence with the Mines and Energy Ministry. A ground breaking ceremony will be held at the end of 2007. Production is expected to commence at the end of 2009, with the first delivery in 2010.
The mine is expected to produce 2.9 million pounds of uranium oxide [1115 t U] per annum over an 11-year lifespan.
(The Namibia Economist Nov. 2, 2007)
Korea Electric Power Co to participate in development of Valencia uranium mine
On Nov. 1, 2007, Forsys Metals Corp announced that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Korea Electric Power Corporation ("KEPCO").
Pursuant to the terms of the MOU, Forsys and KEPCO will discuss possible joint venture arrangements for the future exploration and development of Forsys' Namibian uranium properties, including its Valencia Uranium Property.
Forsys to apply for mining license for Valencia uranium mine project
Forsys plans to submit an application for a mining license for its Valencia uranium mine project soon. The company hopes to begin construction in 2008; uranium production could then begin at the end of 2009. At present, the feasibility study is still underway, and the water supply for the mine is still unclear.
(Allgemeine Zeitung Sep. 12, 2007)
Valencia uranium project Scoping Report EA and EMP
The Scoping Report for the Environmental Assessment (EA) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) of the Valencia uranium mine project is available for download:
> Download Scoping Report EA and EMP - Valencia Uranium Project, July 2007: Forsys Metals Corp. or Digby Wells & Associates (Pty) Ltd
Forsys plans to mine Valencia deposit in giant open pit mine
Forsys plans to dig an open pit almost the size of the nearby Rössing mine, at ore grades about one third of Rössing's.
Forsys wants to mine 116.8 million tonnes of ore at a grade of 0.119 kg U3O8/t (0.010% U). To get at the ore, 122.4 million tonnes of waste rock have to be removed. The final pit will be 1,400 m long, 700 m wide, and 360 m deep.
> Download Technical Report June 2007: Forsys (6.4M PDF) · SEDAR (1.8M PDF)
Desalination plant for Valencia uranium mine project required
The proposed Valencia uranium mine will require up to 3 million cubic metres of water per year - an amount the state owned Namwater probably cannot supply. Westport Resources now is conducting investigations for the construction of a desalination plant. The Valencia mine is to be designed as an open pit mine with a depth down to 350 metres and an annual production of 18 million tonnes of ore.
(Allgemeine Zeitung May 3, 2007)
On May 18, 2007, Forsys Metals Corp. announced that it has received a water permit for the desalination plant.
TV crew threatened with legal action for filming at public meeting on Valencia project
Westport Resources Mining Group threatened to sue One Africa Television if it broadcast material of a public meeting (held on April 23, 2007, in Windhoek) on the Valencia uranium mine project. The Media Institute of South Africa (Misa) has expressed concern about the apparent intolerance of media activities by Forsys subsidiary Westport Resources.
(Namibian May 2, 2007)
Preliminary environmental assessment for Valencia mine to be presented at public meetings
The preliminary environmental assessment prepared by Enviro Dynamics for the proposed Valencia mine is to be presented at the following public meetings:
- 23 April 2007, 18:00: Windhoek Country Club
- 24 April 2007, 18:00: Usakos Hotel
- 25 April 2007, 18:00: Stadthalle in Arandis
- 26 April 2007, 10:00: Atlantic Hotel in Walvis Bay
- 26 April 2007, 18:00: Alte-Brücke-Ressort in Swakopmund
(Allgemeine Zeitung Apr. 13, 2007)
Forsys initiates Pre-Feasibility Study for Valencia uranium project
On Nov. 6, 2006, Forsys Metals Corp. announced acceptance of a Pre-Feasibility Study proposal for the Valencia Uranium Project in western central Namibia offered by Snowden Mining Consultants of Johannesburg, South Africa.
On May 16, 2007, Forsys announced the receipt of the Pre-Feasibility Study.
Preliminary Environmental Assessment for Mining of Valencia deposit completed
Eco.plan Namibia ("Eco.plan") has completed its Preliminary
Environmental Assessment for Mining report. This study, commissioned by
the Company, had as its main objectives to identify i) whether there are
any potential fatal flaws to mining at Valencia, ii) what environmental
studies would be required prior to and during the life cycle of a mining
operation at Valencia and iii) what environmental monitoring activities
would be necessary. In its report Eco.plan identified those
environmental studies and environmental monitoring that would likely be
required and concluded that "At this stage, there do not appear to be
any environmental fatal flaws in relation to the mining of uranium at
Valencia."
(excerpt from Forsys Metals Corp. release Feb. 8, 2006)
> View more recent issues
On March 18, 2007, the first shipment consisting of 4,202 kgs of uranium ore concentrate U3O8 in 18 drums left the port of Walvis Bay, bound for the Honeywell/Converdyn uranium conversion facility in Metropolis, Illinois. (ML071370379 )
On March 16, 2007, the Langer Heinrich uranium mine was officially opened.
On Dec. 28, 2006, Paladin announced that the Langer Heinrich uranium mine has produced its first yellow cake during commissioning.
On Nov. 23, 2006, Paladin announced a 9% increase in the uranium resources at Langer Heinrich and the grant of an exploration license for the area located west of the current project.
On Jan. 19, 2006, Paladin announced it has secured its first sales contract for a portion of its yellowcake production from the Langer Heinrich Uranium
Mining Operation, scheduled for commissioning in September 2006. The sales contract with a major US utility is for the purchase of 2,145,000 lbs U3O8 (829 t U) for delivery between 2007 and 2012 and is subject to finalisation of all necessary legal documentation.
Paladin's share placement sucessfully raised AUD$ 77 million (US$ 58 million).
This capital raising in addition to the project loan facility of
US$ 71 million will provide Paladin with all the necessary funding to complete
development of its Langer Heinrich Uranium Mining Operation, the Kayelekera
Bankable Feasibility Study and also ensure sufficient general working capital
is available to advance other project opportunities.
The development activities at Langer Heinrich remain on schedule. The
civil and earthworks contracts have now been awarded and the construction camp
to accommodate 560 workers is nearing completion. (Paladin Oct. 21, 2005)
Members of the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) protested at the occasion of the groundbreaking ceremony of the Langer Heinrich uranium mine held on September 15, 2005.
The Namibia Branch of the environmental organization Earthlife Africa criticized the environmental and health hazards of the project. According to a report prepared by German Öko-Institut on behalf of Earthlife, Paladin's Environmental Assessment underestimates the radiation doses fourfold. Moreover, the proposed tailings management concept would have serious flaws.(Allgemeine Zeitung Sep. 16, 2005)
> Download: Evaluation of selected aspects of the environmental assessment report for the Langer Heinrich Uranium Mining Project in Namibia , Öko-Institut, Darmstadt, September 29, 2005 (340k PDF)
On July 31, 2005 (after obtaining the mining licence), Paladin Resources Ltd published the final Langer Heinrich Uranium Mine environmental assessment report on its website.
> Download Langer Heinrich Uranium Mine environmental assessment report , April 2005
The Namibian Minister of Mines has approved the granting of a 25-year Mining
Licence to Langer Heinrich Uranium (Pty) Ltd, wholly owned by Paladin
Resources Ltd, allowing full scale development of the Langer Heinrich
mining operation to proceed. (Paladin July 27, 2005)
The uranium royalty related to the Langer Heinrich deposit was acquired by Redport Ltd. on June 28, 2005.
On April 20, 2005, Namibian environmental organisation Earthlife appealed to government, politicians and all Namibian political parties to stop mining operations at Langer Heinrich.
The organisation's chairperson, Bertchen Kohrs, said in a press release that mining uranium in the park not only poses health hazards but also environmental concerns such as water contamination - one of the serious issues that have not been addressed properly. (New Era April 21, 2005)
In October 2004, Paladin held public meetings at Windhoek (Oct. 20), Swakopmund (Oct. 21) und Walvis Bay (Oct. 22) to present its Langer Heinrich uranium mine project.
> Download Minutes of the Langer Heinrich public participation meetings (October 2004) (Softchem)
During the meetings, the need for a second uranium mine in Namibia was questioned.
The issue of the availability of water for the mine was also raised. While the draft environmental assessment states that the mine's water need could not be calculated yet, Paladin declared it at the meetings as one million cubic metres per year. According to Paladin, water supplier NamWater had confirmed that there was sufficient water available in the groundwater supplies of Kuiseb and Omdel deltas. However, several people said that the current annual supply of 7 million cubic meters to the coastal areas was already facing a severe strain, and the mine would increase the consumption by 15%.
The fact that the mine borders the Namib Naukluft Park and travel to and from the mine to the coast would be via the existing C28 gravel road that runs right through the park, gave rise to many questions from the residents.
According to Paladin, the tenement containing a 12 km stretch of ore body had been excised from the park earlier years when exploration first started in the 1970s. However, the Desert Research Foundation , whose well-known executive director Dr Mary Seely attended the Windhoek meeting, disputed that the land holding the uranium deposit had been cut off from the rest of the park or that it had been deproclaimed.
The South African company Softchem is preparing the final environmental assessment for the project until March 2005.
A bankable feasibility study for the project is underway and if all goes well the mine would be constructed from the second quarter of 2005.
(Namibian/Allgemeine Zeitung Oct. 25, 2004, The Namibia Economist Oct. 22, 2004)
The draft environmental assessment is currently available for inspection at the libraries of Windhoek, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. The public is invited to comment. Feedback must be received by November 17, 2004.
> Download Paladin release Oct. 28, 2004 (PDF)
> Download Draft Langer Heinrich Uranium Project Environmental Assessment Report (JavaScript must be enabled)
Paladin has completed the Pre-Feasibility Study on the Langer Heinrich Uranium Project "the results of which justify taking the project to final feasibility determination. Current analysis indicates the project is robust at US$14.00lb/U3O8 and able to support a 10 year mine life producing 1,000tpa uranium oxide at a low operating cost." (Paladin 19 Feb. 2003)
In August, 2002, Paladin Resources Ltd acquired 100% of Langer Heinrich Uranium (Pty) Ltd, the Namibian company holding the Project rights.
A pre-feasibility study at Acclaim Uranium's Langer Heinrich deposit is underway, targeting a production start in March 2002. (The Australian, Nov. 1, 1999)