Name and location
Goanikontes uranium project, Namibia.

Project description
A scoping study has been completed into the potential economic development of the Goanikontes anomaly A uranium deposit.

The scoping study has proposed contract mining through a conventional openpit, drill-and-blast method followed by a load-and-haul method. The study has proposed a maximum production target of 4 000 t/y of uranium.

The study to date is considered a base case, as overall the project has considerable upside for the discovery of further similar deposits.

Value
The capital costs for the project have been projected at between $363-million and $400-million, depending on the plant design.

Duration
Currently, it is planned to have a final resource for the deposit by the end of 2007 or early 2008. The prefeasibility study will start immediately in early 2008, running directly into a bankable feasibility study to be finalised by the end of 2008. The engineering, procurement and construction management contract could start in 2009 and be completed over a two-year period and be ready for commissioning by late 2010.

Ramp-up to full production could be completed over a period of eight months, with full production under way by mid-2011.

Breakdown of main contracts
Not stated.

Client
Bannerman Resources.

Latest developments
None stated.

Participants
Independent Metallurgical Operations and Coffey Mining (scoping study).

Construction materials
None stated.

On budget and on time?
Not stated.

Contact details for project information
Bannerman Resources, tel +61 8 9381 1436 or fax +61 8 9381 1068.