Australian-based Lotus Resources plans to move immediately towards a feasibility study on the reopening of its Kayelekera uranium project in Malawi after a scoping study highlighted its potential as a viable long-term operation.
Lotus, which acquired Paladin Energy’s 65% stake in the mothballed mine for $A9.8M in cash and shares in June, says the study identified $US50M capital cost for a development with alternative 8-year or 14-year mine life scenarios to produce up to 23.8Mlb U3O8 at a C1 cost of $33/lb.
MD Eduard Smirnov says the study confirms Kayelekera can be among the first projects to restart production in time for a global uranium supply shortfall predicted to emerge by 2024.