Rising prices have seen moves to reopen mines and resume stalled projects
Australia-based Paladin Energy has announced the first commercial production from the Langer Heinrich uranium mine since operations were suspended at the Namibian project in 2018 in an effort to preserve the mine’s uranium resource and to mitigate operating losses.
In 2022, Paladin began a project to return the mine to production in response to rising uranium prices and a renewed interest in nuclear energy in many countries from governments looking for energy security and ways to meet emissions targets.
The company has now announced that uranium concentrate has been produced and drummed.
The focus will now shift to increasing production and building a finished product inventory, ahead of shipments to customers, Paladin said.
Rising prices for uranium have seen several miners move to reopen mines, resume activities at stalled projects and boost production.
Langer Heinrich is in the Namib Desert 80 km east of the principal seaport of Walvis Bay and 40 km south-east of Namibia’s – and the world’s – longest-running open pit uranium mine, China National Uranium Corporation’s Rössing.
Langer Heinrich was discovered in 1973 and Paladin Energy took over the asset in August 2002, kicking off production in 2007 with an initial capacity of 2.7 million pounds of uranium oxide per year.
This capacity was later expanded to 3.7 million pounds in 2009 and 5.2 million pounds in 2012. However, due to a sharp decline in uranium prices in the following years the company axed production in November 2016.
Langer Heinrich was placed under full care and maintenance in May 2018.
According to Paladin, the mine 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.
U3O8, or yellowcake, is a type of uranium concentrate powder used to produce fuel for nuclear power reactors.
The Langer Heinrich project is 75%-owned by Paladin with China National Nuclear Corporation subsidiary CNNC Overseas Uranium Holding Ltd owning a 25% interest.
Langer Heinrich is in the Namib Desert 80 km east of the principal seaport of Walvis Bay.
