Bannerman nearing completion of Definitive Feasibility on Etango-8 uranium
Bannerman Mining Resources is nearing completion of the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) on its Etango-8 Uranium Project, near Swakopmund, under the guidance of a world-class Technical Steering Committee, according to a newsletter released this week by the Chamber of Mines.
Although Bannerman has been busy at Etango since 2006, the “Etango-8” project is a smaller development pathway for the mine that will enable uranium production sooner with lower development hurdles.
The name Etango-8 refers to the reduced throughput of 8 million tonnes per annum, compared to the original development proposition of 20 million tonnes per annum (for which Bannerman completed a DFS in 2012).
A Technical Steering Committee has overseen the DFS process and supported the owner’s team. The Committee is chaired by industry veteran Norman Green and comprises experts in their respective fields: John Turney, Mike Leech, Steve Herlihy, and Brandon Munro.
Norman Green is well known in the Namibian mining industry after leading the feasibility, environmental, and construction phases of the Husab uranium mine as Chief Executive of Swakop Uranium before handing over to CGN in 2012.
Among numerous other resources projects in Africa over the last 35 years, he led the construction and commissioning of the Skorpion Zinc mine and refinery project and consulted with NamDeb on operational improvements at the Elizabeth Bay diamond mine.
John Turney was Bannerman’s Project Director from 2008-2015 and oversaw the original Etango PFS (2009), DFS (2012), and DFS Optimisation Study (2015).
Mike Leech is a past President of the Namibian Chamber of Mines and past Chairman of the Namibian Uranium Association. He was Managing Director of Rössing Uranium Ltd, then the largest uranium mine in the world, until he retired in 2011. He is currently Chairman of Bannerman Mining Resources (Namibia).
Steve Herlihy is Chief Financial Officer of ASX-listed parent company Bannerman Energy. His extensive background in the resources sector includes senior executive roles in BHP Limited.
Brandon Munro is Chief Executive of Bannerman Energy and an expert on the uranium market. He serves on the Advisory Panel to the Board of the World Nuclear Association.
Global engineering firm Wood plc is the DFS lead engineer with support from Namibian consultants comprising Qubeka Mining Consultants, Addiza Energy Solutions, Urban Green, Lund Consulting Engineers, Windhoek Consulting Engineers, WML Coast Consulting Engineers, CREO Engineering Solutions, Namisun Environmental Projects, and A. Speiser Environmental Consultants. The Bannerman team is led by Managing Director Werner Ewald, who has led Bannerman Mining Resources (Namibia) since 2011.
The DFS is expected to be done by the end of September 2022.
