TSX- and JSE-listed First Uranium intends raising another C$46-million to provide more funding for its South African Ezulweni and Mine Waste Solutions gold and uranium projects, Mining Weekly previously reported.“First Uranium, headed by CEO Deon van der Mescht, is selling 46-million more shares at C$1 a share to achieve its goal of being a low-cost producer of uranium and gold. An underground mine provides the feed material for the new uranium and gold plants at Ezulwini, and Mine Waste Solutions recovers gold and uranium from tailings.”In January 2011, uranium and gold producer First Uranium’s Ezulwini Mine’s management finalised an updated life-of-mine model, which provides an update on its mine plan, along with updated guidance on cash flow to execute capital programmes and achieve milestones in its business plan. During December 2010, the shaft hoisting capacity was restricted owing to lateral pressures being placed onto the shaft sidewall, which in turn created pinch points along the hanging tower structure. Therefore, the company undertook a work programme to moil (clear) the pinch points limiting movement of the hanging tower, which resulted in the hoisting capacity of the mine being restricted during the December 2010 and January 2011 period. The initial moiling programme was successfully concluded between December 23, 2010, and January 2, 2011, and the normal hoisting programme resumed. Subsequent shaft inspections were undertaken shortly thereafter and it was noted that further tight spots between the shaft sidewalls and hanging tower had occurred as the tower realigned itself. As a precautionary safety measure, management stopped the shaft for additional rehabilitation work, losing four production shifts in the process. On January 7, 2011, the shaft had returned to normal operating conditions. A work programme to undertake further moiling around the shaft’s hanging tower is under way and precautions are in place to ensure that any further effect on production is minimised. The moiling programme may have intermittent impacts on production until the end of April 2011. Improvements to hoisting procedures have increased hoisting efficiency, providing the ability to meet planned production rates with fewer shifts. Meanwhile, gold miner Harmony Gold, which holds a 40% interest in independent resource company Rand Uranium, has established the Tshepong, Phakisa and Masimong (TPM) projects to evaluate the potential for the economic recovery of uranium from the ore mined from these operations in the Free State.The TPM projects are expected to produce an average of 600 000 lbs of uranium a year, from 280 000 t/m of underground ore over an 18-year life. Uranium processing has the added benefit of enhancing gold recovery by 0,1 g/t, resulting in increased gold production from these operations by some 28 kg/m. By treating the uranium as a by-product, it is accounted for as a credit, resulting in a reduction in the operating costs of the contributing shafts by about R20 000/kg.A recovered uranium grade of 100 parts per million (ppm) continues to be used and will be updated in the feasibility study. Current head grade assay data received is in the order of 122 ppm. The feasibility study is progressing well and is expected to be complete in May.