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Namibia’s uranium sector will grow on revitalised demand

June 09, 2009 - 08:00 GMT Location: Namibia, Windhoek

KEYWORDS: Rodrick Mukumbira , uranium , Rössing uranium , yellow cake , Langer Heinrich , rio tinto , Paladin Energy , Otto Shikongo

Higher output at existing uranium mines in Namibia and the opening of new ones in response to growing world demand for nuclear fuel will spearhead renewed economic growth in the African country from 2010

Namibia was the fourth-largest global producer of uranium after Canada, Kazakhstan and Australia last year, Otto Shikongo, president of the Chamber of Mines of Namibia, told MB. “Increased production at both Rössing Uranium and newcomer Langer Heinrich combined to push production to uranium oxide above 5,000 tonnes in 2008,” he said. “Our two local producers look set to be joined by several more over the coming years.” Rössing Uranium, 69% owned by Rio Tinto, produced 4,004 tonnes of uranium oxide (U3O8 or yellow cake) in 2008 – the highest level since 1990, Willem van Rooyen, gm of operations, told MB. “We are in the middle of an expansion programme to extend the life of the mine to 2021 and increase nameplate capacity to 4,500 tpy from 2012,” he said. Paladin Energy’s Langer Heinrich mine – brought on stream in 2006 – is completing an expansion this month that will lift...

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