Paladin Energy has withdrawn its 2025 production guidance due to operations disruptions by the rains at the Langer Heinrich Mine.
The company was advancing the early commencement of mining to access higher-grade ore to offset stockpile underperformance and achieve nameplate production.
The disruption to the anticipated start of mining means that the company does not expect the Langer Heinrich Mine to achieve nameplate run-rate guidance of 6 Mlb by the end of CY2025.
The company also revised the Langer Heinrich Mine production guidance for FY2025 to 3.0–3.6 Mlb U₃O₈ from 4.0–4.5 Mlb in its November 12, 2024, press release.
The production guidance revision was due to the lower-than-expected production results for October and operational variability challenges in ramping up production.
Namibia has been experiencing unseasonal heavy rains recently, resulting in Paladin Energy suspending operations on March 21, 2025.
The unseasonal rains impacted the plans to accelerate the commencement of mining and resulted in short-term disruptions to operations.
The rains affected the transport of people to the site, restricted feed to the crushers due to the saturation of stockpiled ore, and excess surface water restricted safe access to the processing plant.
Paladin Energy says while there appears to be no significant damage to the processing plant and people are safe, there was damage to the access roads and minor civil infrastructure on the site, as well as to the haul roads to the mine.
The rain has delayed the mobilisation of key mining equipment and personnel to the site, resulting in water ingress into the open mining pits.
While onsite pumping infrastructure is adequate to de-water the pits, access to the pits to commence mining will likely be delayed.
Although access to the mine has been re-established, and processing plant operations have resumed, Paladin expects the processing plant to return to normal operation as the in-circuit inventory and chemistry stabilise and stockpiled ore saturation levels decrease.
The company says the disruption to the early commencement of mining, the short-term impact of the suspension of operations, and the difficulties associated with processing saturated stockpiled ore have resulted in Paladin withdrawing production guidance for FY2025.
However, Paladin says the Langer Heinrich Mine team continues to drive operational improvements and progress in the advancement of mining.
The company further says the improved water supply outcomes and strong plant recoveries have provided a platform for improving plant production.
Paladin says it still expects to improve production levels in the second half of CY2025 with the blending of ore from the open pit mines.
According to Paladin, despite the delays and disruptions, the preferred mining contractor, Trollope Mining, has started mobilising mining equipment and recruiting and training operators.
All mining permits are in place, and the blasting contractor has completed mobilisation.
