Third uranium mine on way

ANOTHER uranium mine in the Namib Desert is in the pipeline.Gulf Western Trading Pty Ltd, which plans to trade as UraMin Namibia, has announced that it has applied for the renewal of its mineral licence in Namibia for deposits at Trekkopje and Klein Trekkopje.

They plan to set up a uranium mine, processing plant and associated infrastructure at the site, 30 kilometres from Arandis. The 30 368-hectare site is located 35 kilometres from Namibia’s main uranium mine Roessing, and 80 kilometres southeast of Langer Heinrich, a new uranium mine which is due to start operations in September.Gulf Western Trading is wholly owned by UraMin Inc, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands last year.ARANDIS IN SPOTLIGHT A public participation meeting is scheduled at Arandis tonight as part of the environmental impact assessment process.It is expected that Arandis, which was established as a result of the Roessing mine, could benefit from the UraMin operation.With unemployment rife at the town and most people unable to afford municipal services, UraMin says that by creating employment it could have a positive impact on the socio-economic conditions of the town.UraMin Inc was set up in response to the global demand for uranium and plans to list on the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM).The shallow uranium deposits on the farms Trekkopje, Klein Trekkopje and Arandis have been extensively drilled and frequently assessed for mining potential since the 1970s.At the time, low global uranium prices rendered the deposits uneconomical to mine.Gulf Western Trading did ore-reserve estimations there during the 1990s.”The Trekkopje deposit is well suited to extraction by open-mining methods,” said Gulf Western Trading in its public information document.It is estimated that little blasting work needs to be done and that the ore can be easily excavated.Specialised studies forming part of the EIA process are set to be completed by April, at which time the assessment will be open for public review.The company plans to acquire and develop mineral deposits (mainly uranium) wherever these occur globally.It has already started evaluation work in areas in Botswana and Mozambique.The group also plans to explore sites in South Africa, should its applications for prospecting rights be approved.According to its public information document, UraMin believes its proposed mine at Trekkopje “will make a substantial contribution to economic development in Namibia as a whole and specifically to the Erongo Region”.Amidst much controversy about the environmental impact the Langer Heinrich Mine could have on the Namib-Naukluft area, UraMin has said that it plans to minimise negative environmental impact by avoiding accidents and pollution.UraMin has already appointed a South African firm, Turgis Consulting, to work with local consultants on an environmental impact assessment (EIA).As of yet no time frame has been announced for the completion of the necessary studies and investigations, or for the intended start of mining operations.The 30 368-hectare site is located 35 kilometres from Namibia’s main uranium mine Roessing, and 80 kilometres southeast of Langer Heinrich, a new uranium mine which is due to start operations in September.Gulf Western Trading is wholly owned by UraMin Inc, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands last year.ARANDIS IN SPOTLIGHT A public participation meeting is scheduled at Arandis tonight as part of the environmental impact assessment process.It is expected that Arandis, which was established as a result of the Roessing mine, could benefit from the UraMin operation.With unemployment rife at the town and most people unable to afford municipal services, UraMin says that by creating employment it could have a positive impact on the socio-economic conditions of the town.UraMin Inc was set up in response to the global demand for uranium and plans to list on the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM).The shallow uranium deposits on the farms Trekkopje, Klein Trekkopje and Arandis have been extensively drilled and frequently assessed for mining potential since the 1970s. At the time, low global uranium prices rendered the deposits uneconomical to mine.Gulf Western Trading did ore-reserve estimations there during the 1990s.”The Trekkopje deposit is well suited to extraction by open-mining methods,” said Gulf Western Trading in its public information document.It is estimated that little blasting work needs to be done and that the ore can be easily excavated.Specialised studies forming part of the EIA process are set to be completed by April, at which time the assessment will be open for public review.The company plans to acquire and develop mineral deposits (mainly uranium) wherever these occur globally.It has already started evaluation work in areas in Botswana and Mozambique.The group also plans to explore sites in South Africa, should its applications for prospecting rights be approved.According to its public information document, UraMin believes its proposed mine at Trekkopje “will make a substantial contribution to economic development in Namibia as a whole and specifically to the Erongo Region”.Amidst much controversy about the environmental impact the Langer Heinrich Mine could have on the Namib-Naukluft area, UraMin has said that it plans to minimise negative environmental impact by avoiding accidents and pollution.UraMin has already appointed a South African firm, Turgis Consulting, to work with local consultants on an environmental impact assessment (EIA).As of yet no time frame has been announced for the completion of the necessary studies and investigations, or for the intended start of mining operations.