(Ecofin Agency) - Namibia is Africa's top uranium producer, delivering 8,283 tonnes from its mines by 2023. Production is expected to rise significantly in 2024 with the reopening of the Langer Heinrich mine by Australia's Paladin Energy.
Nambia’s Langer Heinrich mine produced 1.2 million pounds of uranium in the second half of 2024. Paladin Energy, the asset’s owner, disclosed the output on January 22. The firm said the figure aligns with its target of producing between 3 million and 3.6 million pounds by June 30, 2025.
Today we released our December 2024 Quarterly results. Highlights include record LHM production of 308,604lb U3O8 in the month of December, average plant recovery of 88% for the quarter, and completion of Fission acquisition and listing on the TSX https://t.co/8q7CJyeO0g pic.twitter.com/kN2vB4Zk9E
— Paladin Energy (@Paladin_Energy) January 22, 2025
Uranium production has been stable over the last two quarters, with outputs of 638,409 pounds and 639,679 pounds in Q3 and Q4, respectively. However, Paladin needs to produce at least 1.7 million pounds more to meet the lower end of its fiscal 2025 guidance.
Closed in 2018, Langer Heinrich resumed production last March, spurred by growing demand for uranium.
According to the World Nuclear Association, global demand for uranium should increase by 28% from 2023 to 2030, and 51% from 2031 to 2040, due to renewed interest in nuclear energy.
Namibia produced 8,283 tonnes or about 18.2 million pounds of uranium in 2023.
This article was initially published in French byEmiliano Tossou
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho