Swakop Uranium explores uranium partnership in Zambia
CHAMWE KAIRA
Swakop Uranium (Pty) executive president, Irvine Simataa, along with two officials, recently paid a courtesy call on the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Permanent Secretary, Hapenga Kabeta.
The discussion centred on a potential partnership to develop high-potential uranium projects in Zambia, the Zambian Ministry of Mines and Minerals said.
Swakop Uranium, a Namibian mining company specialising in uranium production, is keen to expand its expertise to emerging markets, including greenfield mining opportunities.
This collaboration could mark a significant step in Zambia’s mining sector, leveraging Swakop Uranium’s experience to unlock new opportunities in uranium development, the Zambian ministry said.
The Zambian government recently said it is ready to use nuclear science and technology for peaceful means to address some of the country’s challenges, such as the ongoing drought which has affected the nation.
The Ministry of Technology and Science has said the integration of nuclear science and technology into national development strategies is vital in addressing some of the major challenges the world faces today.
Zambia is moving in the direction of developing its capacity to eventually operate a nuclear power plant of, at least, 2 000 MW within the next five years.
The capacity-building process for the nuclear power plant also ensures that the capacity in other nuclear science-related fields, such as health and agriculture, is also built.
The Nuclear, Science and Technology Programme is envisaged to be undertaken over a time horizon between ten to fifteen years.
Swakop Uranium started development of the mine in February 2013.
The main part of the Husab project is the Rössing South orebody, about five kilometres south of the Rössing mine and 45 kilometres northeast of Walvis Bay Port.
Husab plans to mine 15 million tonnes of ore per year from two separate open pits to feed a processing plant designed to produce 6000 tonnes of U3O8 per year.
Mine construction commenced in 2014. The mine began production at the end of 2016, producing 192t U3O8 during that year.
Production will ramp up to 5500t U3O8/year by 2020, with most of the product being supplied to China and up to 20% being marketed internationally by CGN Global Uranium Ltd, incorporated in the UK.
