Chamwe Kaira
Bannerman Energy says early construction works at the Etango uranium project are on track with both budget and schedule.
The executive chairman of Bannermann Brandon Munro said detailed design work on the Etango process plant is progressing well, with dry plant engineering now about 86% complete.
“I am pleased with the on-time, on-budget progress that the Bannerman team is achieving in conjunction with our contractors. Our focus on tight contract and activity controls continues to be consistently applied by the team,” Munro said.
The bulk earthworks contract, awarded in August 2024 for a 24-month period, is 42% complete and advancing according to schedule. Construction of the heap leach pad is underway, and excavation of the process solution ponds has started.
The construction power facilities have been completed, and the 33kV reticulation has been commissioned. Pressure testing of the site water network has been finalised, and water supply is now available across all construction laydown areas.
Phase 1 of the permanent water line will be installed by a local Namibian contractor in the next quarter.
Munro said the factory acceptance test of the high-pressure grinding rolls (HPGR) tertiary crusher was successfully completed at the Köppern factory in Hattingen, Germany, and packaging for transport to Namibia has begun.
Long-term supply contracts with Namibian utilities are also progressing. The infrastructure development agreement for the water pipeline from the NamWater base station to Etango has been signed, and the water supply agreement is expected to be finalised soon.
Bannerman and NamPower have signed the full-form supply agreement, with NamPower appointing a project manager to design and construct an additional feeder bay at the Kuiseb substation.
Munro said the site lease agreement for the planned acid storage and handling facility at Walvis Bay port has been signed with Namport. On 25 June 2025, Bannerman received the Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) for the facility.
Windhoek Consulting Engineers has been appointed as the local consultant for detailed design and construction supervision. On-site geotechnical and survey activities are expected to begin in October.
Caption
The crusher was acquired by Bannerman from Germany.
