Paladin Energy Ltd.-Kayelekera Mine, Malawi; Update on Start-Up-1 Week Delay
PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA -- (Marketwire) -- 09/07/11 -- Paladin Energy Ltd ('Paladin' or 'the Company') (TSX: PDN)(ASX: PDN) wishes to advise that plant commissioning of the Kayelekera upgrades commenced 29 August as planned with a 4 day programme to get the plant online. With the drying and packaging plant temporarily offline, the additional tank storage needed for collecting the wet uranium precipitate, requires extra reinforcement so that about 4 weeks of production can be held in front of the centrifuge process step. The centrifuge is used to pre-dry the yellowcake to 25% moisture content before sending to Langer Heinrich for final drying and packaging. This reinforcement work is expected to take one week to complete after which plant operation will commence.
It has been decided to undertake remedial maintenance on the acid plant involving pipe repairs and other structural work to mitigate problems caused by earth movement. Once production recommences next week existing acid inventories will be supplemented by purchased sulphuric acid until the work on the acid plant is completed next month.
ACN 061 681 098
Contacts:
Paladin Energy Ltd
John Borshoff
Managing Director/CEO
Tel: 61-8-9381-4366 or Mobile: 61-419-912-571
john.borshoff@paladinenergy.com.au
Paladin Energy Ltd
Greg Taylor
Investor Relations Contact
Tel: 905 337-7673 or Mobile: 416-605-5120 (Toronto)
greg.taylor@paladinenergy.com.au