Rössing uranium mine has commissioned a full investigation into a leach tank failure at its mine. One of 12 leach tanks in the mine’s processing plant failed at around 18h30 on Tuesday, December 03, 2013, causing a leachate spill, which was fully contained onsite and without any impact on the environment.
“The leachate is a mixture of crushed ore, water, acid, manganese and iron. Its uranium content is as in the mined ore (about 300 ppm), but diluted with the liquids, so radioactivity is significantly less than that of mined ore,” explained Rössing Managing Director, Werner Duvenhage, in a statement released yesterday.
Duvenhage said the area where the tank failed has since been demarcated and made safe to prevent unauthorised entry.
Apart from minor first aid administered at the scene, no employees were reported to have sustained injuries or came into contact with the material during or after the incident.
Said Duvenhage: “The leachate was channelled in existing engineered trenches into an overflow sump within the area’s containment systems, from where it will be recycled in the processing plant. Following the incident, regular measurements by the mine’s Radiation Safety section have shown radiation dose levels have not increased and have remained well within safe levels.”
Monitoring is said to continue to ensure exposure to the clean-up team will not exceed the normal occupational exposures in the area.
“Rössing remains at all times committed to the health and safety of the employees and the community and the protection of the environment. Rössing is working with the relevant regulatory authorities in Namibia in the management of the incident,” added Duvenhage.
The mine’s milling operation was stopped after the spill, but is expected to restart after restoration work has been undertaken. A restoration schedule is currently being developed.
Production in the other areas of the mine has not been affected and continues as usual. The cost of the restoration work as well as impacts on the mine’s production and finances are yet to be determined.
Leaching is a step in the production of uranium oxide where the milled ore is leached in a sulphuric acid solution.
By Staff Reporter