The U-pgrade™ process provides flexibility and optionality in project design and development. Pic: Getty Images
Elevate Uranium on target for demonstration plant build next year
Mining
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- EL8 targets U-pgrade™demonstration plant for Koppies ore next year
- Current metallurgical testing will inform plants’ design
- Resource expansion drilling ongoing at Namibia projects
Special Report: Elevate Uranium says it is on track for design and construction of a demonstration plant using its U-pgrade™ beneficiation process at the Koppies mine in Namibia for the first half of CY2025, which could be operational by the end of next year.
The company’s unique process reduces ore mass by 95% prior to leach, providing a potential 50% capex and opex reduction compared to conventional processes.
Elevate Uranium (ASX:EL8) says the current U-pgrade™ metallurgical beneficiation program on the ore is progressing well, with six tonnes of uranium from the Koppies resource currently being tested.
Results are expected early next year and will be used to inform the design of the demonstration plant – the contract for the engineering of which is expected to be awarded by the end of 2024.
Elevate MD Murray Hill says the company is focused on proving the benefits of the beneficiation process as it progresses towards development of the Koppies project.
“Design and construction of an U-pgrade™ demonstration plant will occur during the first half of CY2025 and the plant is planned to be operating in late CY2025,” he said.
Resource expansion drilling ongoing
Meanwhile, resource expansion and exploration programs continue in Namibia at the Hirabeb, Namib IV, and Capri tenements at Koppies, along with the Marenica uranium project.
The Hirabeb hosts a resource of 10.2 Mlb eU3O8 is just 25kms from Koppies, and returned 1.5m at 292ppm eU3O8 from 9m and 2m at 545ppm eU3O8 from 25.5m.
The Namib IV tenement is only 20kms from Koppies, and with a maiden resource expected next year.
Notable results include:
- 3.5m at 2,053ppm eU3O8 from 3.5m
- 18m at 267ppm eU3O8 from 10m
- 1.5m at 1,110ppm eU3O8 from 0.5m; and
- 3m at 535ppm eU3O8 from 0.5m.
Hirabeb and Namib IV are both part of the Koppies uranium project. The company is confident of extending the life of mine or allowing an increased production rate, at any future mining operation at Koppies.
“Drilling on the Koppies project at Hirabeb has intersected mineralisation adjacent to the current resource area, and at Namib IV we continue to record impressive intervals from our infill program, where we are proving the extent of mineralisation identified by previous broad spaced exploration drilling programs,” Hill said.
“Impressive results are also being achieved from drilling at Capri from our infill drill program and from greenfields exploration outside the resource area at Marenica.”
The Capri tenement is also on track for a maiden resource next year, with recent drilling returning:
- 4.5m at 942ppm eU3O8 from 7.5m
- 7.5m at 270ppm eU3O8 from 3.5m; and
- 3.5m at 438ppm eU3O8 from surface.
At Marenica, drilling testing exploration targets outside of the known resource area returned 12m at 439ppm eU3O8 from 14m.
This article was developed in collaboration with Elevate Uranium, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.
This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
