Monday, March 10, 2008
Nuclear power bad option: Earthlife Namibia, The Namibian reports
March 10-The Namibian-THE use of nuclear power is unsafe, dangerous and a bad option for Namibia, due to long-term radiation and unsolved problems regarding nuclear waste storage placing a heavy burden on future generations, a Namibian environmental organisation says.
In a reaction to last week's Cabinet decision to opt for uranium enrichment in Namibia as well as the construction of a nuclear power plant, the organisation Earthlife Namibia on Friday said it was "absolutely shocked" about the decision.
"Given current global demand, it is estimated that the world's uranium resources - both those currently available and possible new reserves - will be exhausted within 60 to 70 years," it said.
Earthlife stated that Government's view that electricity produced by nuclear power plants was environmentally friendly and free of carbon emissions was not true.
According to the Cabinet briefing paper, "energy produced by nuclear power stations is considered carbon free, especially if its fuel is processed using nuclear-generated electricity.
Products made or mined using this power qualifies for special consideration in terms of carbon credit."
Earthlife countered that the nuclear industry lobby and pro-nuclear politicians wanted to make the world believe that nuclear power was climate friendly.
"The whole fuel cycle of nuclear power, from mining uranium, enrichment of uranium to the decommissioning of the power station after its lifespan, releases three to four times more carbon dioxide per unit of energy produced than renewable energy," Earthlife spokesperson Bertchen Kohrs noted.
"High-level nuclear waste remains radioactive for a long time and worldwide there is no solution of safe disposal.
Nuclear waste is a problem that does not go away because it remains dangerous for at least 200 000 years, thus we burden many generations to come with a problem we create today.
There is a risk of low-level radiation in all stages of the nuclear power process.
Research shows that low-level radiation does have health and environmental implications," Kohrs said in the statement.
Earthlife argues that nuclear energy is on average up to four times more expensive than electricity produced from fossil fuels like oil, coal and gas.
"The enormous costs of decommissioning a nuclear power station and dealing with nuclear waste are usually not included in project cost plans."
Nuclear accidents were mostly a combination of technological and human failure, and could never be ruled out completely; a nuclear accident could have a terrible impact on many generations to come, it warned.
"The consequences of the nuclear explosion at the power station of Chernobyl in the Ukraine 20 years ago still burden many people and the environment.
"Earthlife Namibia urges Government to not make nuclear energy generation an option.
Namibia has many sustainable and climate-friendly resources which should be utilised to the benefit of the country, its people and the environment.
Namibia has two uranium mines - Roessing and Langer Heinrich - in operation.
Twelve more mines are planned, mostly in the Erongo Region, while the largest uranium deposit has been found near Warmbad in a mountain range along the Orange River.
According to mining experts, Namibia's uranium deposits will be depleted by about 2026.
"There is not much use of having a nuclear power station and a uranium enrichment plant, both of which would take at least ten years - until 2018 - to get up and running when eight just years later uranium mining will end," a geologist speaking on condition of anonymity told The Namibian over the weekend (The Namibian).
In a reaction to last week's Cabinet decision to opt for uranium enrichment in Namibia as well as the construction of a nuclear power plant, the organisation Earthlife Namibia on Friday said it was "absolutely shocked" about the decision.
"Given current global demand, it is estimated that the world's uranium resources - both those currently available and possible new reserves - will be exhausted within 60 to 70 years," it said.
Earthlife stated that Government's view that electricity produced by nuclear power plants was environmentally friendly and free of carbon emissions was not true.
According to the Cabinet briefing paper, "energy produced by nuclear power stations is considered carbon free, especially if its fuel is processed using nuclear-generated electricity.
Products made or mined using this power qualifies for special consideration in terms of carbon credit."
Earthlife countered that the nuclear industry lobby and pro-nuclear politicians wanted to make the world believe that nuclear power was climate friendly.
"The whole fuel cycle of nuclear power, from mining uranium, enrichment of uranium to the decommissioning of the power station after its lifespan, releases three to four times more carbon dioxide per unit of energy produced than renewable energy," Earthlife spokesperson Bertchen Kohrs noted.
"High-level nuclear waste remains radioactive for a long time and worldwide there is no solution of safe disposal.
Nuclear waste is a problem that does not go away because it remains dangerous for at least 200 000 years, thus we burden many generations to come with a problem we create today.
There is a risk of low-level radiation in all stages of the nuclear power process.
Research shows that low-level radiation does have health and environmental implications," Kohrs said in the statement.
Earthlife argues that nuclear energy is on average up to four times more expensive than electricity produced from fossil fuels like oil, coal and gas.
"The enormous costs of decommissioning a nuclear power station and dealing with nuclear waste are usually not included in project cost plans."
Nuclear accidents were mostly a combination of technological and human failure, and could never be ruled out completely; a nuclear accident could have a terrible impact on many generations to come, it warned.
"The consequences of the nuclear explosion at the power station of Chernobyl in the Ukraine 20 years ago still burden many people and the environment.
"Earthlife Namibia urges Government to not make nuclear energy generation an option.
Namibia has many sustainable and climate-friendly resources which should be utilised to the benefit of the country, its people and the environment.
Namibia has two uranium mines - Roessing and Langer Heinrich - in operation.
Twelve more mines are planned, mostly in the Erongo Region, while the largest uranium deposit has been found near Warmbad in a mountain range along the Orange River.
According to mining experts, Namibia's uranium deposits will be depleted by about 2026.
"There is not much use of having a nuclear power station and a uranium enrichment plant, both of which would take at least ten years - until 2018 - to get up and running when eight just years later uranium mining will end," a geologist speaking on condition of anonymity told The Namibian over the weekend (The Namibian).
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Forsys Prepares for Contract Mining at Valencia
Forsys Prepares for Contract Mining at Valencia
March 10-(miningnamibia)-Forsys Metals Corporation has announced that Valencia Uranium (Pty) Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company has entered into a Heads of Agreement with Basil Read (Pty) Ltd for the provision of mining services for the company's 100% owned Valencia Uranium Mine located in Namibia, Africa. Basil Read, based in South Africa since 1952, is a diversified construction company possessing capacity, expertise and a considerable track record in the fields of building, civil engineering, structures, roads and opencast mining. Basil Read is currently performing select contract mining services across southern Africa, including the Rio Tinto's Rossing Uranium Mine, located approximately 35 km from Valencia.
Pursuant to the Agreement, Valencia and Basil Read have entered into negotiations on the commercial terms for the provision of mining and construction services for the establishment and operation of Valencia.
Priorities at Valencia which will be addressed immediately by Basil Read and Valencia include the development of a mining plan, mining programme and a mining budget.
March 10-(miningnamibia)-Forsys Metals Corporation has announced that Valencia Uranium (Pty) Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company has entered into a Heads of Agreement with Basil Read (Pty) Ltd for the provision of mining services for the company's 100% owned Valencia Uranium Mine located in Namibia, Africa. Basil Read, based in South Africa since 1952, is a diversified construction company possessing capacity, expertise and a considerable track record in the fields of building, civil engineering, structures, roads and opencast mining. Basil Read is currently performing select contract mining services across southern Africa, including the Rio Tinto's Rossing Uranium Mine, located approximately 35 km from Valencia.
Pursuant to the Agreement, Valencia and Basil Read have entered into negotiations on the commercial terms for the provision of mining and construction services for the establishment and operation of Valencia.
Priorities at Valencia which will be addressed immediately by Basil Read and Valencia include the development of a mining plan, mining programme and a mining budget.
Deep Yellow exploration and drilling update
Deep Yellow exploration and drilling update
March 10 (miningnamibia)-Deep Yellow Limited has issued a Namibian exploration and drilling Update. Deep Yellow Ltd (DYL) said in preliminary results from its ongoing
exploration and drilling activities being undertaken in Namibia by its wholly owned subsidiary Reptile Uranium Namibia (Pty) that latest diamond drillhole on the Tubas uraniferous magnetite intersects 229 ppm eU3O8 over 115 m from 14 m. It said RC drilling on Tumas confirms widespread uranium mineralisation outside known Falconbridge delineated areas.
Best intersection to date is 571 ppm eU3O8 over 8.7 m from surface. Diamond drilling to +400 m commenced on Tubas North alaskites. RC drilling on Tubas North continues to intersect wide alaskite hosted low grade uranium mineralisation.
Airborne electromagnetic survey which were due to begin last week: - RC drilling which commenced last week on Aussinanis and Ripnes Where eU3O8 is reported it relates to values attained from radiometrically logging boreholes with Auslog equipment using an A675 - slimline gamma ray tool. The probe has been calibrated at the Pelindaba Calibration facility in South Africa with calibration certification provided by Geotron Systems (Pty) Ltd a geophysical consultancy based in South Africa. All eU3O8 results reported are affected by issues pertaining to possible disequilibrium and uranium mobility, which should be taken into account when interpreting them pending confirmatory chemical analyses.
March 10 (miningnamibia)-Deep Yellow Limited has issued a Namibian exploration and drilling Update. Deep Yellow Ltd (DYL) said in preliminary results from its ongoing
exploration and drilling activities being undertaken in Namibia by its wholly owned subsidiary Reptile Uranium Namibia (Pty) that latest diamond drillhole on the Tubas uraniferous magnetite intersects 229 ppm eU3O8 over 115 m from 14 m. It said RC drilling on Tumas confirms widespread uranium mineralisation outside known Falconbridge delineated areas.
Best intersection to date is 571 ppm eU3O8 over 8.7 m from surface. Diamond drilling to +400 m commenced on Tubas North alaskites. RC drilling on Tubas North continues to intersect wide alaskite hosted low grade uranium mineralisation.
Airborne electromagnetic survey which were due to begin last week: - RC drilling which commenced last week on Aussinanis and Ripnes Where eU3O8 is reported it relates to values attained from radiometrically logging boreholes with Auslog equipment using an A675 - slimline gamma ray tool. The probe has been calibrated at the Pelindaba Calibration facility in South Africa with calibration certification provided by Geotron Systems (Pty) Ltd a geophysical consultancy based in South Africa. All eU3O8 results reported are affected by issues pertaining to possible disequilibrium and uranium mobility, which should be taken into account when interpreting them pending confirmatory chemical analyses.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Uranium exports to boost Namibian economy
Uranium exports to boost Namibian economy
(Miningnamibia)-The Namibian GDP is anticipated to rise to 4.7% in 2008 on the back of expected favourable commodity prices and increased uranium production, according to the 2008/2009 national budget. Paladin Energy's Langer Heinrich mine is expected to increase production this year. The economy grew by 4.1% in 2006 and preliminary analyses project growth to have slightly declined to around 4.0% in 2007. Over the three year period, growth is projected to average 5.2 %.
The Minister of Finance Saara Kuungongelwa Amadhila said the economic outlook is, however, exposed to risks from uncertain power supply, possible reductions in demand for Namibian exports and continuing inflationary pressures. Inflation increased from 5.1% in 2006 to 6.8% in 2007, and is expected to increase further to 7.0% in 2008, driven by rising transport and food prices.
The Namibian government will allocate the power utility NamPower, 610 million Namibian dollars this year. The money will support infrastructural development for power generation and for back-up energy supply.
“The additional funds are aimed at tackling the energy crisis both in the short and long term,” said Kuungongelwa Amadhila
GDP growth is expected to decline to 4 percent in 2009, due to a decline in diamond mining. The GDP growth is expected to accelerate to 6.2 percent in 2010, when diamond mining is expected to recover.
(Miningnamibia)-The Namibian GDP is anticipated to rise to 4.7% in 2008 on the back of expected favourable commodity prices and increased uranium production, according to the 2008/2009 national budget. Paladin Energy's Langer Heinrich mine is expected to increase production this year. The economy grew by 4.1% in 2006 and preliminary analyses project growth to have slightly declined to around 4.0% in 2007. Over the three year period, growth is projected to average 5.2 %.
The Minister of Finance Saara Kuungongelwa Amadhila said the economic outlook is, however, exposed to risks from uncertain power supply, possible reductions in demand for Namibian exports and continuing inflationary pressures. Inflation increased from 5.1% in 2006 to 6.8% in 2007, and is expected to increase further to 7.0% in 2008, driven by rising transport and food prices.
The Namibian government will allocate the power utility NamPower, 610 million Namibian dollars this year. The money will support infrastructural development for power generation and for back-up energy supply.
“The additional funds are aimed at tackling the energy crisis both in the short and long term,” said Kuungongelwa Amadhila
GDP growth is expected to decline to 4 percent in 2009, due to a decline in diamond mining. The GDP growth is expected to accelerate to 6.2 percent in 2010, when diamond mining is expected to recover.
Farmers alarmed by water permit for Forsys Metal's Valencia Uraniun, The Namibian says
Farmers alarmed by water permit for Forsys Metal's Valencia Uraniun, The Namibian says
(The Namibian)-FARM OWNERS in the Valencia area in Namibia's central northwest are up in arms over Government granting Forsys Metal's Valencia Uranium project a permit to extract 1 000 cubic metres of water a day.
Seventy per cent of the Valencia project is owned by Forsys Metals, while a Namibian BEE company, Ancash Investments (chaired by Namibian entrepreneur, Zacky Nujoma), enjoys a 30 per cent share.
Forsys Metal announced on its website last month that it had received a permit for the extraction of groundwater for the Valencia Uranium Mine from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry.
It said the permit allows it to extract up to 1 000 cubic metres of water a day - "a sufficient quantity to continue with the development of the mine".
The permit is valid for two years, during which time 730 000 cubic metres of water would be extracted.
Reliable sources told The Namibian that a farm uses less water in 36 years than Valencia intends to extract in a month.
Although it is not a commercial farming area, there is major concern about the impact Valencia's water extraction would have on the environment and wildlife - especially in an area where ground water is scarce.
The permit can be withdrawn at any time, should the ground water level approach a critical level.
Farmers and other affected parties who have aired their concerns at several public meetings on the subject are now questioning the transparency of the shareholders.
One of their concerns is the fact that the permit is valid from the date of the last meeting held in Swakopmund on February 12 this year.
At that meeting, it had not yet been disclosed to local people how much water the mine would need.
Pierre Botha of Water Sciences, who undertook the hydro-geological survey, said at the meeting that the water pumps for the mine were not ready and that the issue would again be discussed with local farmers when they were.
The permit was however already valid on the day he made these comments.
Initially, in April last year, the company was quoted as saying it would require about four cubic metres of water a day during its construction phase.
This amount has gradually increased - later it was said that the mine would need about 300 cubic metres of water a day.
Now it is allowed to pump 1 000 cubic metres a day.
The affected parties say there is no meaningful data to justify this increase in demand.
(The Namibian)-FARM OWNERS in the Valencia area in Namibia's central northwest are up in arms over Government granting Forsys Metal's Valencia Uranium project a permit to extract 1 000 cubic metres of water a day.
Seventy per cent of the Valencia project is owned by Forsys Metals, while a Namibian BEE company, Ancash Investments (chaired by Namibian entrepreneur, Zacky Nujoma), enjoys a 30 per cent share.
Forsys Metal announced on its website last month that it had received a permit for the extraction of groundwater for the Valencia Uranium Mine from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry.
It said the permit allows it to extract up to 1 000 cubic metres of water a day - "a sufficient quantity to continue with the development of the mine".
The permit is valid for two years, during which time 730 000 cubic metres of water would be extracted.
Reliable sources told The Namibian that a farm uses less water in 36 years than Valencia intends to extract in a month.
Although it is not a commercial farming area, there is major concern about the impact Valencia's water extraction would have on the environment and wildlife - especially in an area where ground water is scarce.
The permit can be withdrawn at any time, should the ground water level approach a critical level.
Farmers and other affected parties who have aired their concerns at several public meetings on the subject are now questioning the transparency of the shareholders.
One of their concerns is the fact that the permit is valid from the date of the last meeting held in Swakopmund on February 12 this year.
At that meeting, it had not yet been disclosed to local people how much water the mine would need.
Pierre Botha of Water Sciences, who undertook the hydro-geological survey, said at the meeting that the water pumps for the mine were not ready and that the issue would again be discussed with local farmers when they were.
The permit was however already valid on the day he made these comments.
Initially, in April last year, the company was quoted as saying it would require about four cubic metres of water a day during its construction phase.
This amount has gradually increased - later it was said that the mine would need about 300 cubic metres of water a day.
Now it is allowed to pump 1 000 cubic metres a day.
The affected parties say there is no meaningful data to justify this increase in demand.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Namibia plans to set up nuclear reactor, The Namibian says
Namibia plans to set up nuclear reactor, The Namibian says
3 March. The Namibia government has decided to opt for nuclear power generation and has approved the construction of nuclear power plants and to allow uranium enrichment on Namibian soil, despite environmental dangers such as long-term radiation from nuclear waste for over 200 000 years, storage of atomic waste and nuclear plants having a short lifespan of just 40 years before having to shut down for good, The Namibia newspaper reported on Monday.
3 March. The Namibia government has decided to opt for nuclear power generation and has approved the construction of nuclear power plants and to allow uranium enrichment on Namibian soil, despite environmental dangers such as long-term radiation from nuclear waste for over 200 000 years, storage of atomic waste and nuclear plants having a short lifespan of just 40 years before having to shut down for good, The Namibia newspaper reported on Monday.
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