CHAMWE KAIRAÂ
Paladin Energy expects production at its Langer Heinrich mine to improve in the second half of 2025 through blending ore from open-pit mines.
However, floods in the Erongo Region have delayed the start of mining and damaged parts of the site.
As a result, the company no longer expects to reach its target of six million pounds of uranium production by the end of 2025.
“The acceleration of mining was a key initiative in offsetting the underperformance of stockpile ore and achieving nameplate production. The LHM team continues to drive operational improvements and progress in mining. Improved water supply outcomes and strong levels of plant recoveries have provided a platform for improving plant production.”
The company said despite the delays and disruptions, the preferred mining contractor, Trollope Mining, has commenced mining equipment mobilisation and the recruitment and training of operators.
All mining permits are in place and the blasting contractor has completed mobilisation, it added.
Paladin announced that unseasonal heavy rainfall has occurred in Namibia, with the Langer Heinrich experiencing a one-in-fifty-year rainfall event.
This impacted the company’s plans to accelerate the commencement of mining and resulted in short-term disruptions to operations.
These included the transport of people to the site, restricted feed for the crushers due to the saturation of stockpiled ore, and excess surface water restricting safe access to the processing plant, the company announced.
It said whilst there appears to be no significant damage to the processing plant and the workers are safe, there was damage to the access roads and minor civil infrastructure on the LHM site and to the haul roads to the mine.
“Access to the mine has now been re-established, and processing plant operations have resumed. Paladin expects the processing plant to return to normal operation as the in-circuit inventory and chemistry stabilise and stockpiled ore saturation levels decrease,” the company said.
The company was advancing the early commencement of mining to access higher-grade ore.
The rain across Namibia has delayed the mobilisation of key mining equipment and personnel to site and has resulted in water ingress into the open mining pits.
“Whilst onsite pumping infrastructure is adequate to de-water the pits, access to the pits to commence mining is likely to be delayed. The disruption to early commencement of mining, together with the short-term impact of the suspension of operations and the difficulties associated with processing saturated stockpiled ore, has resulted in Paladin withdrawing production guidance for the 2025 financial year,” the company said.
