Modern Mining January 2025

TOP PROJECTS

these will be cheaper to mine and process.” Beneficiation is an important process too, he continues, suggesting that this is needed in order to separate the geologic material from the uranium. He notes that this is a complex process, as it is crucial to ensure that material isn’t thrown away in the waste stream that might still contain other economically viable minerals. “As already mentioned, a major contributor to operating costs in a mine like this is the process of acid consumption. In order to leach the uranium from the solid material, acid is a vital ingredient. Clearly, if we are able to reduce the amount of acid used, the operation will be that much more profitable. “Therefore, by focusing on specific areas of improvement – including how small the material can be crushed, the type of acid used, and how strong it is when added – we aim to recover the highest amount of uranium through the utilisation of the least amount of acid possible.” People and communities Bowes notes that from a local workforce perspective – even during the current on-site activities, like resource and exploration drilling, monitoring and sampling – the company uses as many locals as it can, indicating that somewhere between 20 and 30 people are already employed from the surrounding villages. “Once the mine is operational, we expect to employ a work force of around 700-800 people in total, and expect the mining contractor to employ several hundred more. Overall, our workforce should be over 1 000 workers, and we will certainly source as many as we can locally, both from the surrounding villages, and from the larger towns like Francistown and Gabarone.” Speaking of the projected operational start date, he points out that Lotus is still in the planning stages, identifying the best and most effective ways to mine and process the material. With plenty of technical work still to be done, he expects it will be a further two to three years before construction of the requisite facilities will begin. “Ultimately though, the timeline remains completely in our hands, thanks to the fact that we already have the required licenses in hand. We are waiting for the technical work to be completed, which will ensure that we know what we want to build and how, not to mention exactly how it will all be financed. Once we reach this point, I estimate that it should take a further 18-24 months before operations begin. This means that our ultimate start date should be anticipated somewhere between 2028/29.” “It is important to note that uranium is a key commodity globally, with nuclear power facilities contributing to the green electricity supply. These entities not only provide security of supply, but also play a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We are pleased that Letlhakane can offer a significant amount of uranium to the market, which will in turn positively impact on the climate crisis. Just as crucially, it will have a huge and positive financial impact on the surrounding communities. In the end, this project has proven to be a commercially attractive proposition for both ourselves and the government, and should have a massive long-term impact on Botswana’s economy,” concludes Bowes. n

Lotus Resources crew weighing soil samples.

Down hole gamma logging underway.

main. It is an increasingly popular commodity today, as the power generated through such facilities has no attendant greenhouse gas emissions. It is therefore a green technology that is far more stable than solar or wind, as nuclear facilities are able to operate 24/7/365,” he states. Cost-effective mining He is quick to add that Lotus has placed a premium on being able to keep operating costs at a minimum. This explains the company’s intense scrutiny of mining and processing methodologies, as well as its desire to leverage various modelling solutions to effectively determine costs. “The reality is that modelling allows us to more accurately determine the value of the minerals in the ground, as well as the cost to the mine to process the material. We utilise geometallurgical modelling to clearly understand and predict operational expenses - something that helps Lotus to delineate the optimal methods for reducing costs, while ensuring that it is still able to maintain a good flow of product at an increased profit margin,” he states. “The cut-off grade of the material is critical when undertaking mineral resource modelling. To this end, the organisation is focused on identifying the most economic blocks to mine, as

40  MODERN MINING  www.modernminingmagazine.co.za | JANUARY 2025