JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – SGS South Africa has completed a metallurgical study on Namibia-focused uranium explorer Forsys Metals’ Norasa project, which comprises the Valencia and Namibplaas projects.
The metallurgical study was a major component of the feasibility study (FS) for the project, which was being prepared by Amec Foster Wheeler and which was scheduled for completion in the first quarter of next year.
Forsys reported that the metallurgical study had shown an increase in uranium recovery to 91.3%, compared with the 85% determined in a 2013 engineering cost study.
Leach acid consumption had decreased by 36.8%, leach oxidant consumption had decreased by 31.5% and no iron addition would be needed once steady-state operation was achieved.
“We expect that these outstanding results will translate into lower operating costs and reduced plant complexity. Our expectation is that the integration of these metallurgical study outcomes in the FS will result in improved economics for the Norasa uranium project.
“We are also very pleased to confirm that we remain on target to complete the FS in the first quarter of 2015, while remaining within budget. The completion of a satisfactory FS would allow the board to consider feasible alternatives for financing the development of the project,” said Forsys Metals CEO Marcel Hilmer.