Mining Intelligence and News
Niger

Madaouela Project

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Overview

Mine TypeOpen Pit & Underground
StatusInactive / Suspended
Commodities
  • Uranium
  • Molybdenum
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
  • Room-and-pillar
Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotThe Madaouela Uranium Project comprises five deposits that have been developed to a high level of confidence.

GoviEx has successfully advanced the Madaouela Project from its initial exploration phase to the publication of its feasibility study in late 2022.

During 2023, GoviEx updated its Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, commenced Front-End Engineering Designs and initial ground works, including the construction of an access road and started exploitation. In June 2024, the company received its radiological certificate, which is a regulatory requirement prior to starting mining operations.

On 4 July 2024, the Government of the Republic of Niger withdrew GoviEx’s rights over the perimeter of the Madaouela mining permit.

The Company reserves the right to challenge the decision to withdraw the mining rights before the competent national or international jurisdictions.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Government of Niger 20 % Indirect
Goviex Uranium Inc. 80 % Indirect
Compagnie Miniere Madaouela SA (“COMIMA”) was incorporated in July 2019 to hold the Madaouela mining permit and owned 80% by the Goviex Uranium and 20% by the Niger government.

Contractors

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Deposit type

  • Sandstone hosted

Summary:

The Madaouela Uranium Project comprises five deposits have been developed to a high level of confidence: Marianne, Marilyn, Miriam, MSNE and Maryvonne.

The Madaouela deposits exhibit classic characteristics of uranium sandstone deposits common the world over.

The Marianne-Marilyn (M&M) deposit is a nearly flat tabular body of mineralisation that spans approximately 7 km (N70E direction) by 3 km across in plan, and the deposit thickness varies from 0.2 to over 2 m (average thickness of about 1 m).The mineralisation occurs at depths from about 30 m on the eastern end of Marilyn, to approximately 60 m in depth in the middle of the Marianne-Marilyn deposit, up to 120 m in depths on the west extensions of Marianne; below the relatively flat topographic surface.

The MYVE deposit is a nearly flat tabular body of mineralisation that spans approximately 1 km (N70E direction) by 0.6 km across in plan, and the deposit thickness varies from 0.2 to 1.8 m (average thickness of about 1 m). The mineralisation occurs at depths from about 105 m in the east to 120 m in the west.

The MSNE deposit spans approximately 2.8 km (N60E direction) by 2.4 km across in plan, and the deposit thickness varies from 0.2 to 2.4 m (average thickness of about 1 m). The mineralisation occurs at depths from about 140 m in the north to 130 m in the south. There is discontinuous uranium mineralisation within the N60E trending UA channel which also varies in orientation depending on position within the channel. Thin uranium mineralisation is also present at the base of the Tarat, in the south of the deposit.

The MSCE deposit is relatively flat and spans approximately 2.0 km (N70E direction) by 0.4 km across in plan, and the deposit thickness varies from 0.4 to 3.4 m (average thickness of about 1.4 m). The mineralisation occurs at depths from about 110 m in the east to 160 m in the west. Thin uranium mineralisation is also present at the base of the Tarat, in the south of the deposit.

The MSEE deposit is affected both by an east-west channel as well as the Madaouela fault in the south-east. Significant mineralisation is irregularly distributed, but the deposit area roughly spans approximately 2.2 km (E direction) by 1.7 km across in plan, and the deposit thickness varies from 0.2 to 2.4 m (average thickness of about 1.0 m). The mineralisation occurs at depths from about 95 m in the north to 140 m in the south, on the downthrown side of the Madaouela fault.

The Miriam deposit mineralisation is a combination of the Guezouman-Talak contact mineralisation present at the other deposits, but also thicker, stacked horizons focussed about a north-westerly trend. The deposit is also affected by the Madaouela fault in the south-east, similar to MSEE. The deposit area spans approximately 2.5 km (N40W direction) by 1.5 km across in plan, and the deposit thickness varies from 0.2 to over 30 m thick localized along the north-westerly structures. The mineralisation occurs at depths from about 65 m in the southeast to 120 m in the north-west.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

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Processing

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Production

CommodityProductUnitsAvg. AnnualLOM
Uranium U3O8 M lbs 2.751
Molybdenum Sulfide M lbs 0.35.2

Operational metrics

Metrics
Daily processing capacity  ....  Subscribe
Annual ore mining rate  ....  Subscribe
Annual processing capacity  ....  Subscribe
Waste tonnes, LOM  ....  Subscribe
Ore tonnes mined, LOM  ....  Subscribe
Total tonnes mined, LOM  ....  Subscribe
Tonnes processed, LOM  ....  Subscribe
* According to 2022 study.

Production Costs

CommodityUnitsAverage
Credits (by-product) U3O8 USD  ....  Subscribe
Cash costs U3O8 USD  ....  Subscribe
Total cash costs U3O8 USD  ....  Subscribe
Total cash costs U3O8 USD  ....  Subscribe
Assumed price U3O8 USD  ....  Subscribe
Assumed price Molybdenum USD  ....  Subscribe
* According to 2022 study / presentation.
** Net of By-Product.

Operating Costs

CurrencyAverage
OP mining costs ($/t milled) USD  ....  Subscribe
UG mining costs ($/t milled) USD  ....  Subscribe
Combined mining costs ($/t milled) USD  ....  Subscribe
Processing costs ($/t milled) USD  ....  Subscribe
G&A ($/t milled) USD  ....  Subscribe
Total operating costs ($/t milled) USD  ....  Subscribe
* According to 2022 study.

Project Costs

MetricsUnitsLOM Total
Initial CapEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Sustaining CapEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Closure costs $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Total CapEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
OP OpEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
UG OpEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
OP/UG OpEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Processing OpEx $M USD 691.5
G&A costs $M USD 179
Total OpEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Income Taxes $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Royalty payments $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Gross revenue (LOM) $M USD  ......  Subscribe
EBITDA (LOM) $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Net Income (LOM) $M USD  ......  Subscribe
After-tax Cash Flow (LOM) $M USD  ......  Subscribe
After-tax NPV @ 8% $M USD  ......  Subscribe
After-tax IRR, %  ......  Subscribe

Required Heavy Mobile Equipment

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Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Nov 26, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Nov 26, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Nov 1, 2022
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Nov 1, 2022

Total WorkforceYear
...... Subscription required 2022

Aerial view:

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