PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Marenica Energy has collected ore samples from uranium miner Paladin Energy’s Langer Heinrich operation, in Namibia, to conduct testwork on.
Marenica and Paladin in June this year struck an agreement to conduct amenability testwork on low-grade ore samples from the Langer Heinrich operation.
The company would use its U-pgrade process technology in an effort to reduce unit operating costs at Langer Heinrich, and potentially enhance future production expansion opportunities at the mine.
The testwork programme was expected to be complete early in the December quarter.
Marenica noted on Tuesday that with Paladin currently in administration, the final ownership structure of the Langer Heinrich mine might remain unclear in the near future. However, the company added that successful testwork results from its U-pgrade application were expected to provide operating cost benefits to the mine, irrespective of the owner.
The U-pgrade technology is applicable to surficial uranium deposits, with a particular emphasis on calcrete-hosted deposits.