Council for Mineral Technology

Increased production of uranium in Southern Africa

09 March 2010Dr Roger Paul

General Manager: Business Development

Price

Long term prediction

Historic Production

Highly enriched U, HEUDiluted for fuel

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency, U.S. is from Energy Information Administration

Updated: 9/09

Top 10 Nuclear Generating Countries 2008, Billion kWh

61.365.384.588.3140.9144.3152.1

241.3

419.8

806.2

U.S. France Japan Russia KoreaRep.

Germany Canada Ukraine China Sweden

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency, U.S. is from Energy Information Administration

Updated: 9/ 09

Nuclear Power Production

437 in operation 5 in long term shut down 55 new plants under construction 142 planned 327 proposed

Resource and Production

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

 Aus

tral

ia K

azak

hsta

n R

ussi

a S

outh

Afr

ica

 Can

ada

 Uni

ted

State

s B

razi

l N

amib

ia N

iger

 Ukr

aine

 Jor

dan

 Uzb

ekis

tan

 Indi

a C

hina

% World Resources % World Production

Reasonably assured resources + inferred resources at $130/kg - World Nuclear Association 2007Uranium production in 2006 - British Geological Survey

Companies active in Namibia

Extract Resources Limited Kalahari Minerals Plc Forsys Metals Corp. Westport Resources Namibia (Pty) Ltd. Dunefield Mining Company Ancash Investments (Pty.) Ltd. Galahad Gold Plc Paladin Resources Ltd Rössing Uranium Ltd Areva (Uramin) Namura Mineral Resources Xemplar Energy Corp. Metals Australia Ltd Bannerman Resources Limited West Australian Metals Ltd Cheetah Minerals Exploration Corporate & Resource Consultants Etruscan Resources Namibia Nam-China Minerals and Development Namibia Mineral Mining Plants & Products Philco Twenty (Pty) Ltd Reptile Investment Four Jaco Floris Smith Nova Energy Ltd. Pitchstone Exploration Ltd. Manica Minerals Ltd., Erongo Energy Ltd Atomredmetzoloto OJSC Reptile Uranium Namibia (Pty) Ltd Mineral Commodities 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

Uranium One, Klerksdorp: CCD BPC SX ADU

Ezilweni: CCDNIMCIXSXADU ppt

Langer Heinrich: CCD Clarific FBIX SDU

Vaal River South: CCD NIMCIXMS/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

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: BPCs Klerksdorp

AngloGold Ashanti: Vaal River South

Research & DevelopmentHPGR 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

Thank you

www.mintek.co.za

Mintek Site