Orano Mining Namibia has carried out the first blast at its Trekkopje uranium project in more than 14 years, marking a significant step in the company’s feasibility study to determine whether one of Namibia’s largest undeveloped uranium deposits can return to production.
The blast, conducted on Monday, unlocks uranium-bearing ore adjacent to the original open pit for mining and processing at the project’s on-site pilot plant.
The ore will be used in pilot-scale processing tests forming part of the feasibility study currently underway to evaluate the technical and economic viability of restarting the mine.
Trekkopje was placed on care and maintenance in 2012 following the collapse in global uranium prices after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. Since then, the project has remained dormant despite being one of the world’s largest uranium deposits.
The latest blast represents the first mining activity at the site since operations were suspended more than a decade ago and signals that Orano has moved from desktop studies to physical field testing.
According to the company, the blast was carried out safely by teams from Orano and mining contractor Tulela Mining & Construction.
“The blast was carried out to unlock ore material adjacent to the original pit area, for the purpose of mining and process testing that will be conducted at the Pilot Plant on site,” Orano said.
The company added that the work forms part of the pilot phase of the feasibility study that will determine the future of the project.
“This forms part of the Pilot of the current feasibility study that Orano is conducting to determine the future of Trekkopje.”
The pilot programme is expected to provide critical information on mining performance, ore characteristics and processing efficiency before Orano decides whether to recommence commercial mining.
Trekkopje has long been regarded as one of Namibia’s most strategically important uranium assets. The mine hosts a large, low-grade uranium resource and was originally designed as a high-volume operation using alkaline heap leaching technology.
Although construction of the mine and processing facilities was substantially completed before the project was suspended, prolonged weakness in uranium prices delayed commercial production.
Improving uranium market fundamentals, growing global demand for nuclear fuel and renewed investment in Namibia’s uranium sector have prompted Orano to reassess the project’s future.
The feasibility study, expected to be completed later this year, will evaluate the technical, environmental and economic requirements for restarting the operation, with results from the pilot plant expected to play a key role in the final investment decision.
The successful blast marks the latest milestone in that process, bringing Trekkopje one step closer to a potential return as Namibia’s next producing uranium mine.
