Uranium miner Paladin Energy says there has been no environmental impact from a storm that caused a tank rupture at the group’s Kayelekera mine in Malawi.
In early January, Paladin had to refute reports from Malawi which implied the group had been discharging toxic waste materials from its Kayelekera mine into the local river system.
But just three days later it said the mine had suffered “minor” damage after a 20-minute, high-intensity storm saw 25mm of rain fall on the site. A surge of storm water caused a tank rupture, releasing perhaps up to 50 litres from the containment bunds in the surrounding areas, the company said in an ASX statement.
The company immediately commenced protection and remediation procedures and took samples to analyse water from within the local stream system.
Today, Paladin said the results of chemical analysis by the miner’s on-site laboratory showed no contamination had occurred.
The results also matched the testing of an independent, accredited laboratory services group collected by the Malawi authorities, chief executive John Borshoff, said.
In January, Paladin said it was preparing a feasibility study for a possible restart of work at the Kayelekera mine contingent on when uranium prices would justify the resumption of work.