Paladin (Africa) Limited

Acid Plant Database October 6, 2011

Owner	Paladin (Africa) Limited
Location	Northern Malawi 52 km west of Karonga
Background	Wholly owned subsidiary of Paladin Energy Limited Ownership: 85% Paladin 15% Malawi Government 1980’s – Central Electricity Generating Board of Great Britain (CEGB) discovered the uranium deposit 1998 – Paladin acquires the project from Balmain Resources Pty Ltd. 2008 – Open pit mining begins 2009 – Mine officially opened
Website	www.paladinenergy.com.au
Plant	Kayelekera Uranium Mine
Coordinates*	9° 59' 43" S, 33° 42' 4" E (site)
Type of Plant	Sulphur Burning
Gas Source	Elemental Sulphur
Plant Capacity	200 MTPD
SA/DA	DA
Emissions	-
Status	Operating
Year Built	2009
Technology	Outotec
Contractor	E+PC Engineering & Projects Company
Remarks	Plant was supplied skid mounted
Pictures
General	-
References	-
News	October 3, 2011 - Paladin Energy Ltd advises that the Kayelekera Mine processing plant has been shut down temporarily to allow replenishment of necessary operational sulphuric acid inventories. As previously announced on the 7th and 16th of September the acid plant has been undergoing remedial repair work made necessary due to localised ground movement and will have an earlier than previously planned re-start. To prepare the acid plant for this start- up, a minimum of 1,600 tonnes of free acid is required to facilitate the recommencement of this facility. The early restart of the acid plant is regarded as a positive outcome, however, it is not possible to run the processing plant and at the same time restore acid stocks to sufficient levels with delays in recent acid deliveries to site. The shutdown of the processing plant will allow required acid stocks to be restored for the earlier start-up of the acid plant. The acid plant is now expected to commence production on the 7th October, one week ahead of schedule. The uranium processing plant will then come back on line approximately 7 days later when the acid plant achieves its nameplate production of 230 tonnes per day and replenishes inventories. The processing plant has been running well since the September announcements were made, with leach recovery averaging 85%, resin-in-pulp (RIP) recovery averaging 97% and overall recovery averaging 81%. No further delays are expected once required acid production is re-established. 2009 - The ramp-up phase is progressing well to date and the ramp-up schedule is being maintained with nameplate production anticipated to be reached by January 2010. The plant has demonstrated full capability to operate throughout its flowsheet and mineralised ore was introduced into the circuit with the first drummed product produced in mid April. Inline with the original schedule, sulphuric acid is currently being trucked to site and stored in the completed bulk acid storage facility for use until the sulphuric acid plant becomes fully operational in late June 2009.

MTPD - Metric Tonne per Day STPD - Short Ton per Day
MTPA - Metric Tonne per Annum STPA - Short Ton per Annum
SA - Single Absorption
DA - Double Absorption

* Coordinates can be used to locate plant on Google Earth


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