French mining giant Orano is evaluating the potential restart of its Trekkopje uranium project in Namibia, citing surging uranium prices and geopolitical shifts affecting its operations in Niger.
The Trekkopje mine, located in the Erongo Region, has been under care and maintenance since 2013, following a slump in uranium prices that forced the company to indefinitely postpone its launch. However, the recent market upturn has renewed interest in the project.
Orano Mining Namibia spokesperson Christine de Klerk confirmed the company’s reassessment, pointing to favorable market conditions.
“The recent surge in uranium spot prices is encouraging to the uranium mining industry, reflecting the comeback of the nuclear energy industry as a realistic solution contributing to the fight against climate change. As for now, we are studying all options on the table, and should the restart of Trekkopje mine be considered opportune, we will communicate this decision to all our stakeholders,” de Klerk told Namibia Mining & Energy.
Trekkopje, discovered in 2005, is located approximately 70 kilometers northeast of Swakopmund and is one of Namibia’s largest uranium reserves. The calcrete-hosted deposit holds an estimated 340 million tonnes of ore with an average uranium grade of 0.014%.
The World Nuclear Association predicts a cumulative deficit of 150 million pounds until the end of 2040.
