Swakop Uranium’s Husab uranium mine in Namibia, majority owned by Chinese companies, is targeting production of 15m lbs of uranium oxide.
China’s Xinhua news agency reported that the mine produced its first drum of uranium oxide on 30 December 2016. China General Nuclear Power Company (CGNPC) and other Chinese partners have a 90% share in the mine and the Namibian government-owned Epangelo Mining has 10%.
“The first production marks the successful operation of all sections of the operating chain, including the mine and all stages of the processing plant,” Muteka said. She added that CGNPC has remained “steadfast” in its desire to see Husab become a reality despite difficult short-term uranium market conditions. She said capital investment in the project to date exceeds $2bn. According to Swakop Uranium, the Husab mine has a potential life of more than 20 years, with uranium reserves of at least 280m tonnes.
