https://www.miningweekly.com
zambia
Design|Efficiency|Engineering|Environment|Excavators|Mining|OPENCAST|Power|PROJECT|Safety|Services|srk|Trucks|Ukwazi|Waste|Environmental|Drilling|Waste|Operations
Design|Efficiency|Engineering|Environment|Excavators|Mining|OPENCAST|Power|PROJECT|Safety|Services|srk|Trucks|Ukwazi|Waste|Environmental|Drilling|Waste|Operations
design|efficiency|engineering|environment|Excavators|mining|opencast|power|project|safety|services|srk|trucks|ukwazi|waste-company|environmental|drilling|waste|operations

Mutanga uranium project, Zambia – update

Image of yellowcake

Photo by © Bloomberg

19th May 2023

By: Sheila Barradas

Creamer Media Research Coordinator & Senior Deputy Editor

     

Font size: - +

Name of the Project
Mutanga uranium project.

Location
In the Southern province of Zambia.

Project Owner/s
GoviEx Uranium.

Project Description
Mutanga comprises three mining permits that cover about 720 km2 and contains five deposits – Dibwe, Dibwe East, Mutanga, Gwabe and Njame.

The project contains a measured and indicated mineral resource of 21.6-million tonnes at an average grade of 318 parts per million (ppm) uranium containing 15-million pounds of uranium, and an inferred mineral resource of 74.6-million tonnes at an average grade of 273 ppm uranium containing 45-million pounds of uranium in six deposits located over a 65 km strike.

The project benefits from simple and straightforward operations, owing to low waste stripping, low acid consumption and low capital expenditure requirements.

A preliminary economic assessment (PEA) completed in 2017 evaluated the economic and technical viability of the project. The PEA envisages the development of openpits at the Mutanga, Dibwe, Dibwe East, Gwabe, Njame and Njame South deposits. Three heap-leach pads will be located at Dibwe East/Mutanga, Dibwe and Gwabe/Njame, and a central processing facility between Dibwe East and Mutanga.

The deposits are amenable to conventional, shallow opencast mining methods using excavators and trucks, with relatively low stripping ratios. The base case envisions an average production rate of 2.6-million pounds of yellowcake a year over an initial 11-year mine life, with an 88% ultimate uranium recovery rate and a total forecast of 26.4-million pounds of uranium.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
At a long-term uranium price of $58/lb uranium, the base case economics for the project are positive and indicate an after-tax net present value, at an 8% discount rate, of $112-million and an internal rate of return of 25%, with a payback of three years.

Capital Expenditure
Initial capital costs have been estimated at $123.4-million.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
GoviEx Uranium will expand the scope of the feasibility study for its Mutanga project to include detailed engineering and design.

With an updated mineral resource to be published in the coming weeks and metallurgical testwork under way, GoviEx has appointed Ukwazi Site Services (project manager and mining), SGS Bateman (process design) and SRK UK (power, hydrogeology and heap leach design) as the project team to undertake the feasibility study for the Muntanga project, targeting 2024 for completion.

These firms will provide specialised expertise and guidance that will help to ensure that the final design and development of the project are optimised for efficiency, safety and sustainability, and that GoviEx’s commitments to environment, social and governance are included in the study.

The company is also focused on completing the project's environmental- and social-impact assessment update and undertaking additional drilling to target mineralisation extensions along sections at the project’s Dibbwi East deposit.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Ukwazi Site Services (project manager and mining), SGS Bateman (process design) and SRK UK (power, hydrogeology and heap-leach design).

Contact Details for Project Information
GoviEx Uranium, tel +1 604 681 5529 or email info@goviex.com.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Comments

Showroom

Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East
Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East

Weir Minerals Europe, Middle East and Africa is a global supplier of excellent minerals solutions, including pumps, valves, hydrocyclones,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East
Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East

Weir Minerals Europe, Middle East and Africa is a global supplier of excellent minerals solutions, including pumps, valves, hydrocyclones,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Hyphen, Eva mine, ferrochrome price make headlines
Hyphen, Eva mine, ferrochrome price make headlines
27th March 2024
Resources Watch
Resources Watch
27th March 2024

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.118 0.169s - 94pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now