KEY POINTS
- Lotus Resources cuts acid use by 70 percent at Letlhakane.
- New two-stage leach simplifies uranium recovery process.
- Pre-feasibility study targeted for completion in late 2026.
Lotus Resources Limited said that its most recent metallurgical testwork at the Letlhakane Uranium Project in Botswana has shown that uranium can be processed much more quickly.
The company was able to minimize acid use by up to 70 percent with a two-stage leaching process. This lowered costs and made the operation more viable.
The new test results mark a key milestone in advancing Letlhakane as a potential low-cost, large-scale uranium operation, complementing the company’s recently restarted Kayelekera Uranium Mine in Malawi.
Two-stage leach concept transforms Letlhakane economics
Developed with Australia’s ANSTO, the two-stage leaching process limits high-acidity conditions to the second phase, maintaining strong uranium recovery rates, only a 6 to 8 percent reduction, while cutting acid usage by about 70 percent. This innovative innovation makes it easier to process and more cost-effective, especially with the current price of uranium.
Lotus Resources Limited reports that its most recent metallurgical testwork at the Letlhakane Uranium Project in Botswana has confirmed a big step forward in how efficiently uranium can be processed. With a two-stage leaching procedure, the company was able to cut acid use by up to 70 percent, which lowered operating expenses and made the project more profitable. This new idea further makes processing easier and makes it more economically viable, even at today’s uranium pricing.
Furthermore, Lotus said the new flowsheet eliminates the need for solvent extraction, allowing the pregnant leach solution to be treated directly with ion exchange.
In the end, the design is cheaper, easier to manufacture and use, and better aligned with modern uranium recovery methods. It lowers expenses for both capital and operations.
Lotus resources is further getting closer to a fresh pre feasibility
Furthermore, the company is also now doing extensive engineering and mining studies to finish the modified flowsheet and enable a new Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS), which should come out in the second half of 2026. Ongoing work also includes process modelling, engineering cost estimates, and resource infill drilling to upgrade the current Mineral Resource Estimate of 142.2 million tonnes at 363 ppm U₃O₈ for 113.7 million pounds.
Managing Director Greg Bittar further said the results underscore Letlhakane’s potential as a “significant uranium operation” within Lotus’s portfolio. “The testwork demonstrates the ability to substantially reduce acid consumption and simplify processing, also reinforcing the project’s strength in the current uranium market,” he said.
Bittar added that the ongoing drilling campaign aims to boost confidence in the resource base, therefore forming the foundation for the upcoming PFS.
