Challenges Facing Uranium Mining in Africa

摘要

The African continent is poised to become an increasingly important source of uranium as the demand for energy continues to grow and the world becomes more focused on reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Africa is highly prospective and largely under-developed, and there is considerable potential for Africa’s uranium reserves to make a significant contribution to the energy needs of our growing world. A series of confronting obstacles are faced by those companies seeking to take part in the African uranium industry. Political instability, sovereign risk, skilled labour shortages, under-developed water and power infrastructure, and supply chain complexities can all contribute to the risks associated with mine development and operation. A number of participants have emerged to overcome these challenges using novel world-class solutions and operate viable, sustainable uranium mines and processing plants in several African countries. Two case studies have been selected for discussion: Namibia and Tanzania. Namibia has emerged as a world-class uranium province through the co-operative effort by numerous uranium operators in conjunction with government to address water and power and supply constraints. This led to decisions to construct additional infrastructure including a desalination plant, additional power generation and the development of additional industries to support uranium mining and processing. Tanzania is proving to be highly prospective with numerous projects in various stages of development. Mining infrastructure is a key challenge to the future success of an expanding mining industry.