More than 560 contract workers are now deployed at Bannerman Energy’s Etango uranium project in Namibia, as early construction works gather pace and key contracts advance steadily toward completion ahead of a targeted final investment decision, with activities tracking to overall budget and schedule.
The growing workforce, drawn from four Namibian contractors — Namibbeton, K Neumayer, Tulela Mining and AN Construction — reflects the scale of activity now underway on site.
The project has also recorded more than 500,000 lost-time injury-free hours, extending Bannerman’s 17-year safety record without a lost-time injury.
At the centre of the build programme, the bulk earthworks contract is now approximately 66.5% complete, with primary focus on the construction of the heap leach pad, associated ponds and the wet plant terraces.
These works are critical to establishing the physical footprint of the operation and to maintaining the project’s critical path toward a final investment decision.
Concrete works under the Phase 1 and Phase 2A contracts have reached about 32% completion, with 5,509 cubic metres of concrete already poured across key infrastructure.
This includes the primary crusher, stockpile tunnel and fine ore silo, all of which are progressing in line with construction timelines.
At the primary crusher, foundations have been completed and first-level walls erected, while the stockpile tunnel foundation is complete, with wall construction advancing.
The base structures for the secondary and tertiary crushing circuits, along with the fine ore silo, have also been completed, signalling steady progress across the dry plant.
Blasting, crushing and screening of heap leach drainage aggregate, being undertaken by Tulela Mining & Construction, is advancing to schedule and on-spec, with about 24% of the required material already produced and stockpiled for installation.
Infrastructure development is also well advanced. Installation of Phase 1 of the permanent water supply pipeline is approximately 70% complete, with foundations for the main pump station and the pipe bridge over the Swakop River already finished.
Earthworks for the booster pump station and pipeline excavations are progressing on schedule, while discussions with NamWater on a long-term supply agreement are advancing positively toward finalisation.
On the power side, Bannerman has signed a definitive supply agreement with NamPower, with detailed design work underway for the dedicated feeder bay at the Kuiseb substation.
An engineering, procurement and construction management contractor is expected to be appointed during the second quarter of 2026 to advance these works.
At Walvis Bay, detailed design of the acid storage and handling facility — a critical component of the heap leach processing and logistics chain — is approximately 39% complete.
Wood Group PLC is undertaking detailed engineering in collaboration with Bannerman’s Namibian owner’s team.
Civil and mechanical design for the dry plant is now about 93% complete, with concrete drawings issued for construction and structural steel designs advancing toward tender.
This follows the completion of the M2 3D model review milestone, enabling the finalisation of structural, mechanical, piping, and platework packages, which are scheduled to move to tender in the second quarter of 2026.
The wet plant design is currently about 23% complete and progressing through layout optimisation test work, after which issued-for-construction drawings will be completed ahead of Phase 3 concrete works.
Earthworks in the wet plant area are already underway to maintain alignment with the broader construction schedule.
“The Etango site is developing rapidly as construction of the project advances at a visible and impressive pace. The presence of over 560 contract personnel actively working on this initial build program shows the scale and significance of our progress.
“We are two-thirds of the way through the 24-month bulk earthworks contract, which continues to advance on budget and schedule. Our early construction works activities continue to maintain the critical path for the Etango construction timeline.
“The excellent outcome to date is largely due to the quality and dedication of our key contract partners in the delivery of all major programs of work currently in progress.
“This commitment is matched amongst the Bannerman owner’s team, as Etango continues towards a targeted Final Investment Decision and full-scale construction launch later this year,” Chamberlain said.
Etango is one of the most advanced undeveloped uranium projects globally, backed by more than 15 years of exploration, test work and feasibility studies.
A definitive feasibility study completed in 2022 confirmed the viability of an open-pit, heap leach operation producing about 3.5 million pounds of U3O8 annually, with expansion potential to 6.7 million pounds per year.
With workforce numbers rising, construction advancing, and engineering nearing completion, Etango is steadily transitioning from planning into execution, positioning itself as Namibia’s next major uranium mine.
