• Paladin raises uranium output forecast to 4.8 million pounds
• Ramp-up at Namibia’s Langer Heinrich mine boosts production
• Company targets 6 million pounds capacity by 2027

Australian company Paladin Energy expects to produce up to 4.8 million pounds of uranium at the Langer Heinrich Mine (LHM) in Namibia in its 2026 fiscal year, which runs from July 2025 to June 2026, up from an initial forecast of 4.4 million pounds.

The revision, announced on Friday, April 17, reflects the ongoing ramp-up of the mine, which restarted in March 2024 after several years of suspension.

Operational performance and ore quality

The company cited strong operational performance in recent months. Higher ore grades and solid recovery rates at the processing plant have helped lift output to 3.6 million pounds in the first nine months of the current fiscal year, well above the 3 million pounds produced in the previous fiscal year.

“The ramp-up and transition to full-capacity mining have progressed satisfactorily during the first nine months of the 2026 financial year,” the company said in a statement. “The combination of a successful mobilization of the mining fleet, higher ore grade and strong recovery rates has resulted in production of 3.6 million pounds of U₃O₈ year-to-date.”

Future capacity and geopolitical risks

The revised outlook could support higher sales volumes and keep the company on track to reach a nominal production capacity of 6 million pounds per year by 2027. However, Paladin said it remains alert to potential disruptions linked to geopolitical uncertainty.

“These revised forecasts are based on current operating conditions and assumptions and could be affected by disruptions arising from the current geopolitical situation,” the company said, adding it continues to monitor developments closely. It maintained its guidance for a full transition of LHM to mining and plant operations by the end of fiscal 2026.

Paladin holds a 75% stake in the mine, while China National Nuclear Corporation owns the remaining 25%. The Namibian state earns revenue from the project through taxes and royalties.

Aurel Sèdjro Houenou