Rossing South has potential to be one of the world's largest uranium mines
AUSTRALIAN headquartered uranium explorer, Extract Resources, has announced its Rossing South project in Namibia is expected to cost US$ 704 million to develop and is expected to produce 14.8 million pounds of uranium a year. It reckons that the resource has the potential to become one of the world’s largest uranium mining operations.
The deposit’s Zones 1 and 2 are already estimated to contain a total resource so far of 267 million lbs of U3O8 grading an average 487 ppm, making it one of the world’s top ten known uranium deposits. Furthermore Zone 1 and 2 mineralisation is still open along strike and down dip giving substantial potential for further size increases as drilling progresses.
The Perth-based company said preliminary cost estimates on the project indicate it can support a viable open pit mining operation developed to feed a 15M tonne per year agitated tank sulphuric acid leach processing plant. Annual production has been estimated at 14.8 million pounds of uranium with capital costs estimated at US$704 million and operating costs of US$23.60 per pound of uranium.
Extract Resources Managing Director, Mr. Peter McIntyre, said “the preliminary cost estimates report indicates a conventional open pit mining operation with an agitated tank leach process plant is expected to support a profitable and sustainable mining operation for more then twenty years.”
“This report represents our base case study and we are continuing with our metallurgical testwork and engineering optimization that will consider other options including a heap-leaching component,” he said.
Namibia has outstanding infrastructure which would greatly assist the development of the Rossing South project. The project area is located about 55 km east of Swakopmund and north east of the deep water port of Walvis Bay. Equipment and materials for constructing and running the mine could be brought in through Walvis Bay.
Mr McIntyre said “the availability of infrastructure combined with the confirmed resource and the outstanding exploration potential still to be tested on the Husab project, should ensure a long and successful mining operation centred on Rossing South.”
Work completed to date has incorporated a preliminary level of design and cost estimation, to establish the general economic viability of a new development. The study has included some key assumptions relevant to the current resource definition program and the metallurgical characteristics of the uranium mineralization, with work on these critical areas continuing.
The study is based on exploration results to date and there would seem to be huge potential for expanding the resource substantially beyond the current big figures as more drilling work is undertaken. There seems little doubt that Rossing South will become a major uranium operation in its own right, but with a continuing battle for control of Extract Resources in progress, the big question is who will end up developing and operating it.
The deposit’s Zones 1 and 2 are already estimated to contain a total resource so far of 267 million lbs of U3O8 grading an average 487 ppm, making it one of the world’s top ten known uranium deposits. Furthermore Zone 1 and 2 mineralisation is still open along strike and down dip giving substantial potential for further size increases as drilling progresses.
The Perth-based company said preliminary cost estimates on the project indicate it can support a viable open pit mining operation developed to feed a 15M tonne per year agitated tank sulphuric acid leach processing plant. Annual production has been estimated at 14.8 million pounds of uranium with capital costs estimated at US$704 million and operating costs of US$23.60 per pound of uranium.
Extract Resources Managing Director, Mr. Peter McIntyre, said “the preliminary cost estimates report indicates a conventional open pit mining operation with an agitated tank leach process plant is expected to support a profitable and sustainable mining operation for more then twenty years.”
“This report represents our base case study and we are continuing with our metallurgical testwork and engineering optimization that will consider other options including a heap-leaching component,” he said.
Namibia has outstanding infrastructure which would greatly assist the development of the Rossing South project. The project area is located about 55 km east of Swakopmund and north east of the deep water port of Walvis Bay. Equipment and materials for constructing and running the mine could be brought in through Walvis Bay.
Mr McIntyre said “the availability of infrastructure combined with the confirmed resource and the outstanding exploration potential still to be tested on the Husab project, should ensure a long and successful mining operation centred on Rossing South.”
Work completed to date has incorporated a preliminary level of design and cost estimation, to establish the general economic viability of a new development. The study has included some key assumptions relevant to the current resource definition program and the metallurgical characteristics of the uranium mineralization, with work on these critical areas continuing.
The study is based on exploration results to date and there would seem to be huge potential for expanding the resource substantially beyond the current big figures as more drilling work is undertaken. There seems little doubt that Rossing South will become a major uranium operation in its own right, but with a continuing battle for control of Extract Resources in progress, the big question is who will end up developing and operating it.
Kommentaar
Republikein
Geen kommentaar is op hierdie artikel gelaat nie