Tag Archives: Madaouela

Delta Drone to perform virtual 3D model baseline survey for GoviEx at Madaouela

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Delta Drone International is set to enter the Niger market for the first time after being contracted by uranium explorer and developer, GoviEx Uranium, to perform a virtual 3D model baseline survey for GoviEx’s Madaouela project.

The baseline survey will be one of the first times Delta Drone International uses its advanced surveying and data capture technology to create a shareable view of a potential mining site to share with GoviEx Uranium stakeholders, it said. These stakeholders are currently unable to attend the site due to current travel restrictions, while the engineering teams will use the results for project construction design.

Over a two-week period, Delta Drone International’s specialist mining pilots will deploy state-of-the-art surveying drones, with the data captured to be used by GoviEx Uranium as the base to build a virtual 3D model of the new site and consult with key international stakeholders, virtually, it said.

Delta Drone International CEO, Christopher Clark, said: “This is the first time Delta Drone International has been commissioned for a project in Niger – a region where aviation, including drone operation, requires military clearance. This project with GoviEx Uranium is an example of the many ways drones are being used to more efficiently share the data needed to guide decision making among business leaders.”

He added: “Working with the GoviEx Uranium team right from the planning phase of their new mine ensures we can seamlessly collate multiple data sets of areas where low-quality, outdated or even no data is available, export it into easy-to-utilise formats and virtually share with their international stakeholders – removing the need for on-site attendance. This type of data capture is likely to be increasingly used in remote sites to support much more efficient and timely stakeholder engagement and decision making around key milestones in projects.”

An updated prefeasibility study from February on Madaouela, based on probable mineral reserves of 54.7 Mlb of U3O8, indicated the company could build a 1 Mt/y operation able to produce 2.48 MIb of U3O8 for 20 years from mostly open-pit reserves.

GoviEx Uranium and Windiga sizing up hybrid solar power solution for Madaouela

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GoviEx Uranium has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Windiga Energy that could see the company’s flagship Madaouela project in Niger use a dedicated and renewable hybrid solar power solution.

Initial discussions and collaboration between the company and Windiga will target energy solutions for Madaouela with the intent to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 20,000 t/y and provide sustainable, renewable power at approximately 25% lower cost than traditional coal-fired options currently available in Niger, GoviEx said.

GoviEx Chairman, Govind Friedland, said: “We are pleased to begin exploring cleaner energy alternatives to power our future development activities in partnership with Windiga.”

The company has requested that Windiga determine the feasibility of a solution to power the Madaouela project and the surrounding local community through a hybrid power plant combining photovoltaic solar panels and diesel generators, with total installed capacity of at least 20 MW.

Under the terms of the MOU, following a favourable result from a feasibility study, GoviEx will have an opportunity to negotiate a power purchase agreement for the priority supply of electricity for an initial term of 21 years, extendible at the request of GoviEx.

Windiga is Canadian energy developer focused on developing, owning and operating renewable energy facilities and off-grid smart power systems on the African continent.

The proposed base case for Madaouela envisages a 2.69 Mlb/y U3O8 yellowcake production rate, a 93.7% ultimate recovery and an 18-year mine life. Initial capital costs were estimated at $359 million, with total life of mine capital costs at $676 million, cash operating costs of $24.49/lb U3O8 excluding royalties, and $31.49/lb U3O8 including royalties.

SRK and SGS Bateman to run the feasibility numbers at GoviEx’s Madaouela uranium project

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SRK Consulting and SGS Bateman have been awarded for their previous work for GoviEx Uranium, with the two set to carry out a feasibility study on the company’s ’s Madaouela uranium project in Niger.

The two companies were part of the team that completed the prefeasibility study and environmental permitting work on Madaouela, with GoviEx saying both have considerable experience in uranium and African project development.

Chairman Govind Friedland said: “We are excited to commence this next stage in the development of the Madaouela project. GoviEx has steadily and actively focused on value accretion for our projects while staying in tune with the state of the market; our appointment of SRK and SGS corresponds with a recovering uranium market price. GoviEx will continue to advance our projects with discretionary spending commensurate with improving market fundamentals.”

Further recovery and cost optimisation will be the focus of the feasibility study, GoviEx said.

The key highlights from the prefeasibility study were a mineral resource of 111 Mlb U3O8 in the measured and indicated categories, and 28 Mlb U3O8 in the inferred category, probable reserves of 60.54 Mlb U3O8, forecast uranium recovery of 93.7%, annual production of 2.69 Mlb U3O8 for 21 years at a cash cost of $24.49/Ib, and start-up capital expenditure of $359 million.

Since the publication of this study, the company has added 11.67 MIb U3O8 in the measured and indicated categories (of which 5.96 Mlb relates to the open-pit amenable Miriam deposit) and 9.35 Mlb U3O8 in the inferred category, plus developed a potential process design that could improve project economics (membrane separation).

The Madoauela project is around 10 km south of the town of Arlit and Orano Mining’s mining subsidiaries of Cominak and Somair, in north-central Niger. Deposits are hosted within sandstones of the Tim Mersoi Basin. The mine permit was approved in January 2016, with environmental approval gained in July 2015.