Elevate Uranium Limited will launch its U-pgrade™ Pilot Plant in Namibia in November 2025, marking the first full-scale demonstration of the company’s proprietary uranium beneficiation process on Namibian soil.
The plant, currently undergoing final factory testing in Perth, Australia, is scheduled to arrive in Namibia in October. It will process at least 60 tonnes of ore from Elevate’s Namibian projects over a four- to five-month pilot phase.
“Our team has worked diligently to ensure the plant is ready for launch, and its operation in Namibia is central to validating the process at a continuous, scalable size,” said Elevate Uranium Managing Director Murray Hill.
Hill said the pilot will generate key performance data to support the potential commercial rollout of the U-pgrade™ technology, which is designed to reduce ore mass and increase uranium concentration prior to downstream processing. This could significantly lower capital and operating costs in full-scale production.
Senior Metallurgist Andrew Jones will relocate from Australia to Namibia to oversee the reassembly and operation of the plant. He will be responsible for technical execution and quality assurance throughout the demonstration period.
“This next phase is crucial as we look to further optimise our development pathway in Namibia,” said Hill. “The data and insights collected will feed directly into the technical studies we plan to initiate during the pilot’s operation.”
The launch follows a successful AU$25 million (N$473 million) capital raise through a two-tranche placement to institutional investors. As a result, Paradice Investment Management acquired a 9.9% stake in the company, joining Sprott Inc, which holds 8.49%.
“The funds raised will support several key initiatives, including metallurgical test work on the Koppies Uranium Project and the construction and operation of the U-pgrade™ demonstration plant,” Hill added.
