Transcript Presentation to [TITLE OF PRESENTATION]

Council for Mineral Technology
Increased production of uranium in
Southern Africa
09 March 2010
Dr Roger Paul
General Manager: Business Development
Price
Long term prediction
Historic Production
Highly enriched U, HEU
Diluted for fuel
Nuclear Power Production
Top 10 Nuclear Generating Countries
2008, Billion kWh
806.2





419.8
437 in operation
5 in long term shut down
55 new plants under construction
142 planned
327 proposed
241.3
152.1
U.S.
France
Japan
Russia
144.3
Korea
Rep.
140.9
Germany
88.3
84.5
Canada
Ukraine
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency, U.S. is from Energy Information Administration
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency, U.S. is from Energy Information Administration
Updated: 9/09
9/09
Updated:
65.3
61.3
China
Sweden
Resource and Production
30
% World Resources
% World Production
25
20
15
10
5
Reasonably assured resources + inferred resources at $130/kg - World Nuclear Association 2007
Uranium production in 2006 - British Geological Survey
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Companies active in Namibia
Extract Resources Limited
Forsys Metals Corp.
Dunefield Mining Company
Galahad Gold Plc
Rössing Uranium Ltd
Namura Mineral Resources
Metals Australia Ltd
West Australian Metals Ltd
Corporate & Resource Consultants
Nam-China Minerals and Development
Philco Twenty (Pty) Ltd
Jaco Floris Smith
Pitchstone Exploration Ltd.
Atomredmetzoloto OJSC
Mineral Commodities Ltd
Kalahari Minerals Plc
Westport Resources Namibia (Pty) Ltd.
Ancash Investments (Pty.) Ltd.
Paladin Resources Ltd
Areva (Uramin)
Xemplar Energy Corp.
Bannerman Resources Limited
Cheetah Minerals Exploration
Etruscan Resources Namibia
Namibia Mineral Mining Plants & Products
Reptile Investment Four
Nova Energy Ltd.
Manica Minerals Ltd., Erongo Energy Ltd
Reptile Uranium Namibia (Pty) Ltd
Africa Uranium Ltd
Mintek Registered Laboratory
 RSA: signatory to international agreement on non proliferation of
nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction
 Authorisation of Minister of Energy and registration with National
Nuclear Regulator (NNR)
 Radiation Protection Programme and health monitoring
 Radiation Protection Specialist – registered with the NNR, has to be an
external consultant
 Radiation Protection Officer – on site, accredited by NNR
 Registered to hold 500 kg U3O8
 Mintek complies strictly to regulations, audits done unannounced: Sept
09 – not single non-compliance found
 Ore, products, waste streams, etc. to be sent back to site of origin (not
to be diluted and disposed of)
Some Flowsheet Options
Development of recent uranium flow sheets is based on grade and
mineralogy of ore, unlike “one fits all” approach of the Wits Au mines
Uranium One, Klerksdorp:
CCD BPC SX ADU
Ezilweni:
CCDNIMCIXSXADU ppt
Langer Heinrich:
CCD Clarific FBIX SDU
Vaal River South:
CCD NIMCIXMS/SX ADU
Trekkopje:
Heap leach  NIMCIX  SDU
Kayelekera:
RIP  direct ppt
AngloGold Ashanti:
NIMCIX / RIP
Harmony demonstration:
RIP direct ADU ppt
Rand Uranium:
CCD BPC SX ADU
Uranium One: BPCs Klerksdorp
AngloGold Ashanti: Vaal River South
Research & Development
HPGR crushing vs conventional: evaluations underway to quantify any
metallurgical advantages (leaching, heap leaching)
Bio heap leaching: direct generation of oxidant (Fe3+) and acid (pyrite
content)
 3% pyrite reduced acid consumption by 50%
Major IX developments:
 Re-estalishment of NIMCIX expertise
 Resin-in-Pulp
 Resin evaluations, improved resins
 Silica behaviour and management: effect of pH, adsorption time
 Direct precipitation from high grade eluate (>30 g/L U3O8)
 Continuous elution: novel approach
 Significant reduction in elution time
CAPEX and OPEX potential savings
Conclusions
 Southern Africa’s uranium resources are under-invested
 Attainment of environmental targets easier in dry climate
 Good infrastructure in many countries
 Technological advances allow economic recovery at lower
grades
 Availability of skilled engineers
Mintek Site
www.mintek.co.za
Thank you