French mining company Orano Mining Namibia is progressing with plans that could lead to the possible restart of its Trekkopje uranium project, which has been on care and maintenance since 2013.
The company has launched a process to support its application to amend the existing Environmental Clearance Certificate.
This amendment would allow Orano to complete the processing plant and construct additional infrastructure at the mine, which is located in the Erongo Region.
Proposed new developments according to documents seen by Namibia Mining & Energy, include a four-kilometre pipeline connecting the Erongo Desalination Plant to the NamWater system, upgrades to the existing access road from Arandis, and the addition of a cement-dosing plant, evaporation ponds, stormwater controls, and a wash-water treatment facility.
Orano, which continues to operate the Erongo Desalination Plant, has described the facility as a key asset that would play a central role in supporting a potential restart of the Trekkopje mine, as well as other uranium projects along Namibia’s central coast.
The company’s renewed focus on Trekkopje comes amid rising uranium prices and a shifting global energy landscape. Orano has previously pointed to a resurgence in demand for nuclear energy, driven by its growing role in efforts to combat climate change.
Discovered in 2005, the Trekkopje deposit is one of Namibia’s largest uranium reserves, holding an estimated 340 million tonnes of ore with an average uranium grade of 0.014%. The mine is situated about 70 kilometres northeast of Swakopmund.
The project was placed on hold more than a decade ago after uranium prices collapsed. However, with spot prices nearing US$100 per pound last year—the highest level since 2008—Orano has resumed its evaluation of the mine’s potential.
Global uranium demand is expected to remain strong in the coming years. According to the World Nuclear Association, the sector faces a projected supply shortfall of around 150 million pounds through to 2040.
