Rössing still going strong

Rössing Uranium has reported one of its strongest operational performances in recent years, producing 3 185 tonnes of uranium oxide in the 2025 financial year and generating more than N$8,2 billion in revenue, according to its latest Sustainability and Performance Report.

The results show that Namibia’s oldest uranium mine produced 585 tonnes more uranium oxide than in 2024, when output stood at 2 600 tonnes, reflecting improved mining and processing performance.

Increased ore processing

To achieve the higher production levels, the mine processed 10,07 million tonnes of ore, compared with 8,49 million tonnes the previous year.

The processing plant handled an additional 1,58 million tonnes of ore, while mining operations removed 35,93 million tonnes of material from the open pit, up from 30,33 million tonnes in 2024. Overall, Rössing moved about 5,6 million tonnes more material during the year to supply the processing plant.

The stronger operational performance contributed to higher sales, with revenue increasing from N$5,93 billion in 2024 to N$8,22 billion in 2025.

Rössing attributed the increase to higher uranium sales volumes, increased production and N$857 million generated through a same-price purchase of material under a location-swap arrangement.

Profit remains stable

Despite increased revenue and uranium production, the company’s net profit after tax from normal operations remained largely unchanged at N$1,022 billion, compared with N$1,028 billion in 2024.

The figures indicate that increased production and sales were accompanied by higher operating costs and other financial pressures.

However, shareholders received a higher dividend. The board declared total dividends of 140 cents per share, consisting of a 2024 final dividend of 68 cents and a 2025 interim dividend of 72 cents.

Total dividend payments amounted to N$231,84 million, compared with N$218,59 million the previous year.

Mine life extension

Rössing Uranium is assessing a project that could extend the life of its Erongo mine by up to 20 years beyond the current 2036 closure date.

Managing director Johan Coetzee said at the company’s 50th anniversary stakeholder dinner in Swakopmund on 30 June that a formal decision was expected later this year.

The mine’s current licence, linked to the Phase 4 Pushback project and ongoing exploration activities, runs until 2036.

According to the sustainability report, the Z20 project is in its feasibility phase, with a Final Investment Decision expected this year.

Coetzee said the extension under consideration could potentially take the mine beyond the timeline outlined in the report. “We are currently looking at extending the life of mine beyond 2053, maybe to 2056,” he said.

He said the decision would depend on financial viability, uranium prices and technical outcomes. “If the finances work out, if the uranium price remains good, if the technical things that we want to do work out, we’re currently looking at extending the life of mine.”

Coetzee said the extension proposal would be submitted to the Rössing board later this year or early next year, adding that the board had indicated support in principle. “We just have to make the sums work,” he said.

Long-term ambitions

Coetzee said majority shareholder China National Uranium Corporation (CNUC) had expressed interest in extending the mine’s lifespan significantly. “When the majority shareholder, CNUC, took over, they said they would really like to see this mine become the first centennial mine, the first hundred-year-old mine in Namibia,” he said.

Rössing began production in 1976 and remains Namibia’s longest-running uranium mine.

The company’s report states that Namibia is now the world’s third-largest primary producer of uranium oxide, accounting for 13% of global output, behind Kazakhstan (40%) and Canada (14%).

Rössing contributed about 4% of global primary uranium production in 2025.

Employment, local contributions

Rössing employed 855 people at the end of 2025, of whom 98,9% were Namibian and 21,2% female.

The company reported no fatalities during the year and recorded an all-injury frequency rate of 0,38, below its target of 0,46.

It recorded one permanent disabling injury and two potentially fatal incidents, which it said were identified and addressed.

Social investment totalled N$46,1 million during the year, including N$36 million for the Rössing Foundation and N$10 million for community initiatives.

The company reported that N$4,02 billion of its N$5,12 billion procurement budget was spent with Namibian suppliers.