Mega spark forecast for Langer Heinrich
Targeting nuclear energy plants globally
The Langer Heinrich uranium mine in Namibia is on track to be a significant player in the decarbonisation economy of the near future, majority stakeholder Paladin Energy says.
The Langer Heinrich Mine (LHM), which is in the process of being restarted, will at full capacity produce enough uranium annually to supply more than ten 1 000-megawatts electric (Mwe) nuclear power plants for a year.
“Nuclear energy generation is clean and low-carbon. In this, we’re part of the positive change that is proven to reduce and replace reliance on carbon-emitting greenhouse gases,” Paladin Energy says in its latest Sustainability Report, released last week.
Paladin, listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX), owns 75% of LHM, with 25% owned by China National Nuclear Corporation’s (CNNC) Overseas Uranium Holding Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of CNNC.
In July, Paladin decided to return LHM to production, with first volumes targeted for the first quarter of 2024. The mine, which started commercial production in 2007, was placed on care and maintenance in 2018 due to low uranium prices. In June 2021, Paladin announced a plan to restart the mine.
Capital cost to restart production is estimated at about US$118 million or more than N$2 billion at the current exchange rate.
CARBON FOOTPRINT
“Over the life of the LHM, achieving this level of power generation through coal fired electricity would generate an average of 58 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per annum. This equates to a total of around 1.3 billion tonnes carbon dioxide emissions that would be generated by the equivalent coal-fired electricity, over the projected 17-year life of the LHM,” Paladin says.
Uranium fuel is one of the most concentrated energy forms. One uranium fuel pellet - the size of a fingertip - creates as much energy as one tonne of coal, according to the miner.
“One tonne of uranium can produce more than 40 million kilowatt hours of electricity, equivalent to 16 000 tonnes of coal or 80 000 barrels of oil,” it adds.
Unlike intermittent energy sources such as wind and solar, the uranium fuel LHM will supply to nuclear utilities around the world will provide dependable 24/7 base-load energy that can be relied on, Paladin says.
To produce a comparable amount of energy from wind and solar as from Paladin’s peak uranium production would require over 4 300 wind turbines covering an area equal to 2 100 km², or over 30 million solar photovoltaic panels covering an area over 400 km², the miner says.
Paladin will supply uranium fuel to nuclear energy facilities worldwide, it says.
“The provision of clean uranium energy supplied by Paladin to produce electricity is one of the most effective ways to meet the challenge of achieving the greenhouse gas reduction goals set by the Paris Agreement and Glasgow Climate Pact.”
RESTART PROJECT
Paladin confirmed that the restart project at LHM has commenced.
The miner estimates that, based on current contracting strategies, approximately 1 000 people will be mobilised to the LHM site, with an estimated peak of around 400 people onsite at one time. To date, approximately 100 people have been mobilised on-site within the project, Paladin says.
“Going forward, as the LHM restart project ramps-up and we move towards production, we aim to provide local and regional employment opportunities wherever possible.
“LHM is expected to provide many jobs and opportunities to Namibian nationals, contributing significantly to the economic wellbeing of the local population and the overall Namibian economy. Paladin also provides local and regional employment opportunities and encourages diversity wherever possible across all of the company’s operations,” it says.
Cirrus Capital, in its mid-year economic outlook, said it remained “highly positive on the long-term potential for Namibia’s uranium sector”, with LHM in the process of being restarted, as well as a host of promising exploration projects.
“Nuclear energy generation is clean and low-carbon. In this, we’re part of the positive change that is proven to reduce and replace reliance on carbon-emitting greenhouse gases,” Paladin Energy says in its latest Sustainability Report, released last week.
Paladin, listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX), owns 75% of LHM, with 25% owned by China National Nuclear Corporation’s (CNNC) Overseas Uranium Holding Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of CNNC.
In July, Paladin decided to return LHM to production, with first volumes targeted for the first quarter of 2024. The mine, which started commercial production in 2007, was placed on care and maintenance in 2018 due to low uranium prices. In June 2021, Paladin announced a plan to restart the mine.
Capital cost to restart production is estimated at about US$118 million or more than N$2 billion at the current exchange rate.
CARBON FOOTPRINT
“Over the life of the LHM, achieving this level of power generation through coal fired electricity would generate an average of 58 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per annum. This equates to a total of around 1.3 billion tonnes carbon dioxide emissions that would be generated by the equivalent coal-fired electricity, over the projected 17-year life of the LHM,” Paladin says.
Uranium fuel is one of the most concentrated energy forms. One uranium fuel pellet - the size of a fingertip - creates as much energy as one tonne of coal, according to the miner.
“One tonne of uranium can produce more than 40 million kilowatt hours of electricity, equivalent to 16 000 tonnes of coal or 80 000 barrels of oil,” it adds.
Unlike intermittent energy sources such as wind and solar, the uranium fuel LHM will supply to nuclear utilities around the world will provide dependable 24/7 base-load energy that can be relied on, Paladin says.
To produce a comparable amount of energy from wind and solar as from Paladin’s peak uranium production would require over 4 300 wind turbines covering an area equal to 2 100 km², or over 30 million solar photovoltaic panels covering an area over 400 km², the miner says.
Paladin will supply uranium fuel to nuclear energy facilities worldwide, it says.
“The provision of clean uranium energy supplied by Paladin to produce electricity is one of the most effective ways to meet the challenge of achieving the greenhouse gas reduction goals set by the Paris Agreement and Glasgow Climate Pact.”
RESTART PROJECT
Paladin confirmed that the restart project at LHM has commenced.
The miner estimates that, based on current contracting strategies, approximately 1 000 people will be mobilised to the LHM site, with an estimated peak of around 400 people onsite at one time. To date, approximately 100 people have been mobilised on-site within the project, Paladin says.
“Going forward, as the LHM restart project ramps-up and we move towards production, we aim to provide local and regional employment opportunities wherever possible.
“LHM is expected to provide many jobs and opportunities to Namibian nationals, contributing significantly to the economic wellbeing of the local population and the overall Namibian economy. Paladin also provides local and regional employment opportunities and encourages diversity wherever possible across all of the company’s operations,” it says.
Cirrus Capital, in its mid-year economic outlook, said it remained “highly positive on the long-term potential for Namibia’s uranium sector”, with LHM in the process of being restarted, as well as a host of promising exploration projects.
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