Uranium recovery

April 2008 Flow Measurement & Control

WSP Africa Coastal Engineers has been appointed as the marine consultants for the design and construction supervision of the largest desalination plant in sub-Saharan Africa.

The plant, which will have a capacity of some 120 Ml per day, is to be constructed some 4 km north of Wlotzkasbaken in Namibia, located midway between Swakopmund and Henties Bay. The desalination plant is part of the water supply system for the Trekkopje uranium mine, which is being developed by UraMin Namibia.

Fresh water is required for the processing of uranium ore and the recovery of uranium. As Namibia is a water-scarce country, no fresh water supply is available that can supply the necessary volume of water required. It was consequently decided to provide the fresh water through the desalination of seawater.

The plant includes a seawater abstraction and intake system. The reject brine from the reverse osmosis desalination plant will be discharged back into the sea. Spare capacity is included in the project to supply fresh water for domestic consumption. From the plant, the water will be piped some 50 km to the mine.

The scope of the contract encompasses the marine intake works and brine outfall diffuser system, the desalination plant and a 50 km pipeline for the conveyance of the water to the mine. The design and installation of the water supply system is under the leadership of Keyplan with WSP Africa Coastal Engineers and Namibia-based Bicon as the marine and terrestrial civils consultants respectively. Murray & Roberts have been appointed as marine contractors for the intake works and outfall construction.

Design work on the desalination plant commenced in February 2007. Construction will commence early in 2008 and the plant should supply its first water in early 2009.

For more information contact Andrew Mather, WSP Group Africa, +27 (0)11 300 6000, [email protected], www.wspgroup.co.za

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