Elevate Uranium (ASX:EL8) is due to complete final factory testing for its U-pgrade demonstration plant, scheduled to be shipped to Namibia in early August 2025.
The plant is expected to arrive in October 2025, with operations beginning during November 2025. Operations will show the performance of U-pgrade by beneficiating at least 60 tonnes of uranium ore sourced from the company’s Namibia projects.
Elevate Uranium, which has a market capitalisation of $96.4 million, says the plant is designed to confirm the U-pgrade beneficiation process at a scalable size and operating on a continuous basis. The trial is expected to demonstrate the U-pgrade process and its technical applicability for commercialisation.
Managing Director Murray Hill says the pilot plant marks a pivotal step in the company’s development journey.
“Our team has worked diligently to ensure its readiness, and its operation in Namibia is central to validating the process at a continuous, scalable size,” Hill says.
“As we look to further optimise the development pathway in Namibia, the data and insights collected will be key to the technical studies which we aim to start during the period of pilot plant operation.
“QAQC analysed results from operation of the plant will take four to five months to collate and report.”
Elevate’s Senior Metallurgist Andrew Jones will be relocating from Perth to Namibia to oversee the plant’s arrival, reassembly, and operation.
U-pgrade is a beneficiation process which reduces ore mass by greater than 95% prior to leaching, thereby concentrating uranium and increasing the grade to be leached. U-pgrade increases the Marenica Uranium Project ore grade from 93 parts per million (ppm) to 5,000ppm triuranium octoxide and reduces capital and operating costs by 50%.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Elevate Uranium
