Langer Heinrich restart ahead of schedule
Australian miner Paladin Energy Limited says its Langer Heinrich mine (LHM) is moving swiftly towards resuming production. The miner announced the milestone in a recent operational update.“The LHM re-commenced commercial production on 30 March, following successful completion of the restart project. Production ramp-up and product inventory build-up are underway, ahead of the first customer shipment expected in July,” it said.
The LHM will be in operational ramp up during financial year (FY) 2025, with ore feed to the plant sourced from previously mined stockpiled ore. Production levels are expected to be higher in the second half of the year.
According to Paladin, mining activities are expected to re-commence in FY2026 ahead of achieving nameplate production of six million pounds per annum by the end of the 2026 calendar year.
The mine is now preparing for production ramp-up following its restart, after it had been in care and maintenance for nearly six years, its CEO Ian Purdy recently said. He noted the restart as a highlight, and acknowledged the Namibian government’s role in lending a supporting hand to Paladin.
“After a period of nearly six years of care and maintenance, returning the LHM to commercial production was an important milestone for Paladin. I would like to thank all our staff and contractors for their hard work and acknowledge the Namibian government and our local communities in the Erongo Region for their continued support,” he said.
Among the earmarked deliverables are debottlenecking upgrades, an increase in throughput capacity and the operational availability of the plant, while also improving environmental and sustainability aspects of operations, he noted.
“We remain focused on the ramp-up of production and delivering our first shipment to our international customers. With a strong uranium price outlook, a world-class long-life asset and a strong balance sheet, Paladin remains well-positioned to generate strong returns for our stakeholders."
According to Purdy, the remaining restart project activities are now focused on closing out completion tasks and contractor demobilisation. “Paladin will provide guidance on key financial year 2025 operational parameters in July,” he said.