Kayelekera mine
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  Kayelekera mine | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Location | Karonga District |
| Region | Northern Region |
| Country | Malawi |
| Coordinates | 9°59′34″S 33°41′53″E / 9.9928°S 33.6981°E |
| Owner | |
| Company | Lotus Resources Limited (85%) Government of Malawi (15%) |
| Website | lotusresources |
Kayelekera uranium mine is an open cast uranium mine 52 kilometers west[1] of the regional administrative and commercial centre Karonga in Malawi, Africa and was the country's largest mine. Production at the mine has been paused since February 2014, due to a fall in global uranium prices.[2]
Kayelekera was owned 100% by Paladin (Africa) Limited (PAL), an 85% subsidiary of Australian and Canadian listed Paladin Energy and in July 2009, Paladin issued 15% of the equity in Paladin (Africa) Ltd to the Government of Malawi[3] under the terms of the Mining Development Agreement[4] signed between PAL and the Government in February 2007. The mine was officially opened on 17 April 2009 by the then Malawian president Bingu wa Mutharika.[3] In 2014, the mine entered care and maintenance mode owing to a depressed uranium market.[5] While in production, the mine exported containers of uranium oxide via the port of Walvis Bay.[6] The mine has not been profitable for its operators and has met opposition from organisations and individuals concerned about the mine's tax concessions, operation, adherence to law and regulation and its potential impacts on human and environmental safety.[7][8] In 2020, Paladin sold its 85% interest in the project to Lotus Resources (65%) and Lily Resources (20%).[9] In 2021, Lotus acquired Lily's stake.[10]