:: AREVA Namibia Donates Laboratory Equipment and Chemical Reagents to NUST

AREVA Namibia and the Department of Mining and Metallurgy at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) recently concluded a scoping study arising from a technical cooperation agreement for test work on uranium processing and metallurgy between the two entities. The partnership commenced at the beginning of 2016.

At the close-off ceremony for this study, held in Swakopmund on Friday, 28 July 2017, AREVA Namibia donated laboratory equipment and chemical reagents to NUST worth N$120 000. The equipment consists of a Scintillation Gama Radiameter, as well as chemical reagents to be used by NUST for their own continued test works in their laboratories. At the handover, NUST’s Prof Chris Magombedze, Prof Dick Groot and Ms Foibe Uahengo, received the handover on behalf of NUST from Mr Leonard Eiman, AREVA Namibia’s Superintendent Research and Development. Thanks to the donation from AREVA Namibia, the department will be able to measure radiation levels on the surrounding environment for uranium ore samples and will use the chemical reagents as part of the student laboratory practical courses.

Pictured at the handover event, from left to right, Mr Francois van Dyk, AREVA Namibia, Prof Dick Groot, Ms Foibe Uahengo, and Prof Chris Magombedze, NUST, Mr Leonard Eiman, Ms Angelique Botha and Ms Kaarina Nkandi, AREVA Namibia

The technical partnership centred around test work on the Trekkopje uranium resource of AREVA Namibia, which is a low-grade deposit. The focus of this particular study was to reduce the costs of uranium recovery during leaching by employing flotation as a means of removing reagent consuming minerals.

The findings of the study will be published, and shared at the upcoming International Uranium Conference, taking place in Swakopmund during September. In addition, Ms Foibe Uahengo, a post-graduate student at NUST, will continue with additional test work as part of her PhD study during 2017.