Uranium enrichment company Orano Chimie-Enrichissement (CE) has agreed to accept uranium ore concentrate produced at ASX-listed Lotus Resources‘ Kayalekera mine, in Malawi, at its conversion facility in Malvesi, France.
“Orano’s acceptance of uranium marks a fantastic milestone for the Kayelekera restart, positioning Lotus as the next global uranium supplier. We are very excited to have achieved this acceptance by Orano, which allows us to now plan for first product to be dispatched from site.
“The first export of uranium is subject to final product preparation, testing, acceptance, permits and shipping arrangements, all expected to occur in the second quarter of this year,” comments Lotus MD Greg Bittar.
Lotus says the export of uranium ore through Dar es Salaam, in Tanzania, remains the preferred shipping route; however, given the impact of global events on shipping logistics and specifically on the availability of shipping from Dar es Salaam to the transshipment hub in Singapore, Lotus is working with road transport group Alistair Group and freight forwarder Orano NPS to start exports through Walvis Bay, in Namibia.