Marenica to re-evaluate scoping study

Marenica will conduct a revised scoping study which should lead to more detailed feasibility study later in the year. The company is also betting on its trade-marked U-pgrade processing technology that it believes will enhance ore concentrates in a low price environment. Making the announcement recently, its managing director, Murray Hill, said: “This revised scoping study will provide an opportunity for Marenica to reset the economics of the project in light of the material advancements possible using the U-pgrade technology and the more competitive cost environment in which the industry finds itself in at the moment.” He added: “Progressing our own projects using U-pgrade is both complementary and supportive of our corporate strategy of developing a portfolio of uranium interests (which includes direct ownership and royalty streams from third party assets) and providing our shareholders with a leveraged and diversified exposure to the medium term prospects in the uranium market.” A scoping study was completed on the Project in 2011. Since then, Marenica has developed its processing technology, U-pgrade, providing the potential to halve process operating and capital costs for Marenica´s surficial resource. “The revised scoping study is expected to be completed within 3 months, and will create a platform to consider a more detailed feasibility study later in 2017. External consultants DRA and Orelogy have been engaged to complete the work,” the prospective uranium miner said in a statement. Although the low grade of the deposit would normally make development challenging in all but the more optimistic uranium price scenarios, the U-pgrade technology is capable of concentrating the ore by a factor of 50 times to materially improve the economics of the project according to Marenica estimates. The company also intends to channel the expertise within its technical steering committee to revisit all parts of the mining operation to identify further performance and cost improvements. “By applying this technology and technical expertise through the revised scoping study it is hoped to confirm that the Marenica project, with U-pgrade, is viable in US$65-75 per pound of uranium price range and therefore competitive with the best of new uranium projects worldwide,” the company said.STAFF REPORTER

Marenica to re-evaluate scoping study

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-30

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Marenica to re-evaluate scoping study

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-30

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