Paladin closes out record year at Langer Heinrich as ramp-up nears completion

Paladin Energy has reported its strongest year yet at the restarted Langer Heinrich uranium mine in Namibia, producing 4.82-million pounds of uranium oxide in the year to 30 June 2026 and selling 4.35-million pounds at an average realised price of $70 a pound. Production costs averaged $43.30 a pound for the year.

Ramp-up all but done

The Australian-listed company said the mine had effectively completed the ramp-up phase that began when Langer Heinrich returned to production in 2024 after six years on care and maintenance. Total material moved for the year reached 24.41-million tonnes, including 6.09-million tonnes of ore, as the operation shifted from processing old stockpiles toward primary mined feed. Paladin's reserve base at Langer Heinrich stands at 77.5-million pounds of proven and probable ore, underpinned by a measured resource of 91.35-million pounds.

Guidance steps up for FY2027

Paladin has guided FY2027 production of between 5.1-million and 5.6-million pounds of uranium oxide, with sales of 4.8-million to 5.3-million pounds. Production costs are expected to rise slightly, to between $44 and $48 a pound, while capital spending is guided at $29-million to $35-million as the mine moves toward steady-state operation. The company said stronger market conditions were supporting improved economics at the Namibian operation.

Why the mine matters

Langer Heinrich is one of only three producing uranium mines in Namibia, alongside Rössing and Husab, and its recovery has become a bellwether for whether restarted uranium projects can perform once the initial disruption of a restart is behind them. A full year of results above the top end of original guidance strengthens the case for other paused African uranium projects — including Namibia's own Etango and Tumas developments — to move toward construction once financing and prices allow.

Looking ahead

With the ramp-up largely complete, attention now shifts to whether Langer Heinrich can sustain output near nameplate levels through FY2027 while uranium prices, which touched $101 a pound in January before easing, determine how much further capital the industry commits to new African supply.

Sources

• African Mining Market: Paladin Energy reports outstanding FY2026 results from Langer Heinrich Mine, 22 Jul 2026

Photo: Aerial view of the Langer Heinrich area in Namibia's Namib Desert, near Paladin Energy's uranium mine. Hp.Baumeler, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.