Namibia: Roessing to Expand Mining - Scramble for Uranium Increases
The Namibian (Windhoek)
4 January 2008
Posted to the web 4 January 2008
Brigitte Weidlich
Windhoek
The expected depletion of fossil fuels like oil and gas and resulting higher electricity prices is forcing the world's energy industry to look at nuclear power to meet future needs for electricity provision.
Namibia came under the spotlight last year with foreign investors from Canada, Russia, China, Japan and even South Korea arriving in droves to secure supplies or mining rights, expecting a boom in uranium mining. Even Roessing Uranium, Namibia's 30-year-old uranium mine, has extended its lifespan to 2026, despite being slated for closure barely two years ago.
Roessing intends to develop two newly discovered uranium deposits east of the existing mine, which requires the construction of an additional wastewater (tailings) dam and the construction of an on-site sulphuric acid production plant. Consultants are currently drafting an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the new developments, after completing a preliminary scoping report towards the end of last year.
The acid plant is necessary to produce 'yellowcake' uranium from the ore.
According to the scoping report, the acid plant will require 1 000 cubic metres of water daily.
During recent public meetings, the experts were requested by environmentalists and concerned members of the public to look at the increased water resources required, possible impacts of the sulphuric acid plant, seepage of radioactive water from the planned new tailings dam and air pollution of radioactive materials expected from the two new open pits.
Looking at the map of issued exploration licences for uranium, it appears as if most parts of the Erongo Region are being prospected for the radioactive substance, which - once processed - fuels atomic reactors to generate electricity. Langer Heinrich Uranium (LHU) is the second uranium mine in Namibia after Roessing.
It is situated in the Namib-Naukluft Park east of Walvis Bay and became operational 13 months ago. It belongs to an Australian mining company, Paladin Energy, formerly Paladin Resources. It has a mining licence until 2030. DESERT SCRAMBLE Several foreign mining companies, dominated by Canadian firms, hold over 60 exploration licences (EPLs) for uranium, ranging from Tsumkwe to the Skeleton Coast, Kaokoveld, Rehoboth, Luederitz and even Warmbad.
The majority of EPLs issued are for the Erongo Region. Since the year 2000, the price of uranium has risen from a low of US$7 per pound to over US$100 per pound in November 2007. Most energy analysts are predicting a global uranium shortage of some 45 000 tonnes or 100 million pounds over the next decade, unless significantly more mines are brought into production.
Bannerman Resources from Australia holds exploration licences at Goanikontes in the Namib Desert.
A full feasibility study will be undertaken this year, with construction planned near Goanikontes in 2009 and production to start in 2010.
It found significant uranium ore deposits, as far as 300 metres deep, over the 2,3-km-long stretch during drilling in December 2007.
How the proposed uranium mine will affect tourism to Goanikontes in the Swakop River and the famous moon landscape nearby is still unknown.
Canadian company Uramin holds EPLs at Trekkopje and Klein Trekkopje in the Namib Desert east of Arandis.
It was bought by French government energy company Areva last year for US$2,5 billion (about N$17,5 billion).
Uramin wants to mine those "significant uranium deposits" for about 15 years should it receive the go-ahead from the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
Areva agreed in 2007 to supply 35 per cent of its uranium production - including from Africa - for at least the next 14 years to China.
Areva will also build, operate and supply two nuclear reactors in the Chinese province of Guangdong.
WATER WOES Areva's Namibian uranium mining near Trekkopje requires about 20 million cubic metres of water per year.
NamWater cannot supply sufficient amounts of water for the Trekkopje uranium mine project.
Therefore, Uramin plans to build a 15 million cubic metre per year desalination plant near Wlotzkasbaken at the coast.
The pipeline that will connect the proposed Trekkopje uranium mine to the desalination plant will traverse unique lichen fields only found in this area.
Prof Dr Norbert Juergens, head of the, BIOTA Africa Project with a regional office in Windhoek, raised concern about the future of the unique lichen fields.