Paladin Energy’s Langer Heinrich Mine produced 1.23 million pounds of U₃O₈ and sold 1.43 million pounds during the December 2025 quarter, as higher ore feed grades, improved plant recoveries and increased mining activity continued to drive the operation toward full production by the end of FY2026.
The Namibian uranium mine, which Paladin owns outright, delivered a 16% quarter-on-quarter increase in production, lifting first-half FY2026 output to 2.30 million pounds of U₃O₈.
Sales for the quarter were achieved at an average realised price of US$71.8 per pound, while the cost of production declined to US$39.7 per pound, reflecting the benefits of higher throughput and improving operating efficiency.
Mining activity intensified during the quarter, with total material mined rising to 5.53 million tonnes, up from 5.27 million tonnes in the previous quarter.
Ore mined increased sharply to 1.59 million tonnes, compared with 0.90 million tonnes in the September quarter, as operations focused on the G and F pits. Low-grade ore sent to stockpile rose to 1.04 million tonnes, supporting longer-term production flexibility.
Processing performance strengthened as a higher proportion of mined ore was fed to the plant. Crusher throughput reached 1.21 million tonnes at an average ore feed grade of 524 parts per million, up from 477 ppm in the previous quarter. Plant recovery improved to 91%, contributing to the stronger production outcome.
Sales volumes exceeded quarterly production as deliveries were supported by finished product inventory accumulated earlier in the ramp-up phase. Uranium sales schedules are driven by customer nominations and shipping timelines under long-term contracts, meaning quarterly sales do not always align directly with production volumes.
Paladin said the strong first-half performance positions Langer Heinrich to trend toward the upper end of its full-year production guidance of 4.0 to 4.4 million pounds of U₃O₈, as mining and processing continue to scale through the remainder of FY2026. Full mining and processing operations are planned for FY2027 once the ramp-up phase is completed.
The remaining mining fleet arrived at the Port of Walvis Bay during the quarter and is scheduled for delivery to site by the end of January 2026, with commissioning expected in the March quarter.
The additional equipment is expected to support sustained increases in mining rates and ore availability.
Operating costs benefited from the higher production base, with the unit cost of production falling from US$41.6 per pound in the previous quarter.
Capital expenditure at Langer Heinrich totalled US$1.9 million during the quarter, alongside US$0.5 million in exploration spending.
Paladin reported no significant environmental or radiation incidents during the period and recorded an average Total Recordable Injury Frequency rate of 2.9 per million hours worked on a 12-month basis.
“As global interest in nuclear energy continues to strengthen, I am delighted by our progress in ramping up operations at Langer Heinrich Mine.
“The new level of production achieved during the quarter provides insight into the robust performance that can be achieved from this strategic uranium asset,” Paladin managing director and chief executive officer Paul Hemburrow said.
“Our site team’s goal is to continue delivering a consistent operational performance for the remainder of this financial year,” he said.
Beyond production, Paladin has begun mobilising six drill rigs to commence resource definition drilling at ML140 in January 2026. The programme is designed to expand the reserve base and support long-term production planning at Langer Heinrich.
The December quarter performance was underpinned by a strengthened balance sheet, with Paladin closing the period holding US$278.4 million in cash and investments, alongside an undrawn US$70 million revolving credit facility, providing financial flexibility as the mine advances toward steady-state operations.
