By: African mining market

Paladin Energy withdrew its production forecast for 2025 following heavy rainfall at its Langer Heinrich mine in Namibia, described by the company on Wednesday as a “one-in-fifty-year rainfall event”.

Rainfall soaked ore stockpiles and interrupted access to the mine’s processing facilities. Access to the mine was also interrupted owing to road infrastructure damage. Paladin said its processing facilities “appeared” to be undamaged by the weather.

However, mobilisation of key mining equipment and personnel to site was affected and water ingress into the open mining pits would also delay access. This was despite “adequate” pumping infrastructure, although Paladin said the pits would eventually be de-watered.

The announcement represents another blow to the company’s efforts in accelerating output of uranium oxide. It cut production forecast last year following ramp-up difficulties which required a maintenance shut down.

Paladin said it expected the processing plant would “return to normal” operation as the in-circuit inventory and chemistry stabilises and stockpiled ore saturation levels decrease. But for this year, its previously forecast nameplate run-rate guidance of six million pounds was no longer possible.

Paladin previously said on 21st March, that it had suspended production from Langer Heinrich following the heavy rainfall. “The full impact of the weather event and disruption to production will be assessed when conditions have stabilised,” it said at the time.