Information Papers

Uranium in Africa

(April 2008)

Please note:

The country papers on: Namibia, Niger & Gabon, South Africa should be consulted for information in those areas.

This paper will deal with other countries in Africa where uranium deposits having JORC or NI 43-101 compliant resources are known or understood to exist.

Algeria

A lot of uranium exploration occurred in the 1970s, resulting in the discovery of the Tahaggart deposit, as well as other mineralisation. The government reports Reasonably Assured Resources of 26,000 tU in the under $80/kg category.

Morocco

The government's Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM) is encouraging exploration for uranium to build upon that done by French and Russian geologists prior to 1982. Three areas are under investigation: Haute Moulouya, Wafagga and Sirwa. The first two have palaeochannel deposits.

In October 2007 Areva signed an agreement with Morocco's Office Cherifien des Phosphates (OCP) to investigate recovery of uranium from phosphoric acid. The amount of uranium in Morocco's phosphates is reported to be very large.

Central African Republic

Having taken over UraMin Inc, Areva is proposing to develop the $200 million Bakouma project, originally discovered by Cogema (Areva) and more recently taken forward by UraMin Inc of Toronto. It aims to start open pit mining in 2009, at 1200 tU/yr. Resources have been reported as 38,000 tU, though UraMin's web site (October 2007) said 16,000 tU as historic resource estimate reported by a previous owner. Areva holds a 90% interest over ten discrete deposits, the government holds a 10% free carried share, and is disputing some aspects of the Areva takeover of UraMin's rights.

Congo

The Belgian Congo, as it then was, provided much of the uranium for the Manhattan Project in the early 1940s, particularly from the Shinkolobwe mine, 25 km west of Likasi in Katanga. There was some uranium mining subsequently by Union Miniere, to inependence in 1960, when the shafts were sealed and guarded. About 25,000 tU was produced in the two decades until then.

The deposit has been unofficially mined since 1997 for cobalt. A UN report in 2004 described the situation as anarchistic. This has prompted some concern by the International Atomic Energy Agency on account of the possibility that some uranium might be finding its way to countries with illicit weapons programs. In the south-eastern region of Katanga the geology is contiguous with the Zambian copper belt.

The country ratified the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty in 1970.

Guinea

Several companies are exploring for uranium in Guinea. In August 2007 the government noted that Murchison United NL had encountered some encouraging mineralization (or even "commercially viable deposits") at its Firawa prospect, 600 km east of the capital. Nova Energy and Contico also hold exploration licences.

Malawi

Paladin Energy, based in Perth, Australia, is developing the Kayelekera uranium mine in northern Malawi. On the basis of present measured and indicated resources, this will produce some 14,000 tonnes U. A further 2000 tU is in inferred resources. Exploration is proceeding on nearby leases.

The deposit was discovered by UK's CEGB and a feasibility study was subsequently undertaken in the 1980s. Paladin acquired the deposit in 1997, accepted a Bankable Feasibility Study early in 2007, and is proceeding with US$ 200 million mine development. Environmental approval was given and in April 2008 the project was 30% complete. First production is expected in late 2008, ramping up to 1270 tU/yr.

Zambia

Equinox Minerals, based in Perth, Australia, is developing the US$ 762 million Lumwana project in NW Zambia, on the copper belt. This is primarily a copper project but a uranium resource of some 9000 tU as mostly as indicated resources in separate discrete zones and will be mined at the same time, at 600 tU/yr.

Malundwe will be the first of two uranium mines within the overall project, where the mineral is in discrete veins in the broader copper mineralisation. The uranium development will be a separately-financed US$ 150 million exercise and a bankable feasibility study for this is being finalized as of April 2008.

Denison Mines of Canada plans to bring the Kariba uranium project into production by 2011, based on three shallow orebodies. The project was developed by OmegaCorp which identified an inferred resources of 4300 tU (JORC compliant) in 2006, prior to its acquisition by Denison.

Albidon Ltd of UK is exploring the Njame and Gwabe deposits as part of the Chirundu joint venture project and reports 3680 tU as indicted resources.

Zambia is upgrading its mining legislation to take in uranium.  Following detailed consultation with the IAEA it will start issuing uranium mining licences in mid 2008.  It is signatory to the NPT and has been a member of the IAEA since 1969.

Main references:
OECD NEA & IAEA, 2006, Uranium 2005: Resources, Production and Demand.
Paladin Resources
UraMin