Rössing Uranium’s long-term strategy is now focused on identifying an economic pathway for achieving higher production rates from new sources of ore, and extending the life of mine beyond 2036, Managing Director Johan Coetzee has said.
According to him, the potential for further expansion of the current SJ Pit is limited and the focus is therefore on development of a new open pit within the mining lease. The objective is to commence before 2030 and supplement feed from the SJ Pit to achieve higher production rates.
“2024 will be another important year for Rössing Uranium as we begin with substantial pushback work for the Phase 4 extension, while evaluating new opportunities that could potentially extend the life-of-mine beyond 2036,” said Johan.
The Rössing Uranium LoME from 2027 to 2036 was approved by the Rössing Board in February 2023. A 13-year contract was signed with Beifang Mining to commence with a full contract mining service from 2024 to 2036. By the end of 2023, Beifang had mobilised a new fleet of heavy mining equipment to site, together with an experienced workforce trained to operate this equipment. The first blast was taken in the new Phase 4 pushback, ahead of schedule, on 21 December 2023.
Funds were also allocated for upgrades of the Rössing infrastructure and processing plant. These include construction of a 15MWe PV solar power plant, as well as expansion of
The tailings storage facility to accommodate ten years’ additional tailings from the processing of Phase 4 ore. Contracts were awarded for both projects by the end of 2023, with target completion by the end of 2024 and 2025 respectively.
Funds were also allocated for completion of two feasibility studies, for dewatering of the tailings stream to a higher density (thickened) tailings and for onsite treatment of plant solutions to reduce freshwater consumption. Both studies involve the construction of pilot plants. Target completion of the studies is the end of 2024 to inform an investment decision for full-scale execution by the end of 2026.