Lotus fires first blast at Kayelekera as uranium output ramps up
Lotus Resources has fired the first blast at the Kayelekera uranium mine in Malawi, marking the formal restart of openpit mining as the operation advances towards steady-state production in early 2026.
The blast is the first since Kayelekera resumed uranium production in August, and signals the shift from processing solely stockpiled ore to incorporating newly mined run-of-mine (RoM) material. Ore deliveries from the pit to the RoM pad are expected to begin in the coming weeks.
Lotus is targeting steady-state output of 200 000 lb of uranium oxide a month in the first quarter of 2026.
The company said stockpiled ore from previous mining campaigns continued to outperform grade expectations, supporting early yellowcake production. Freshly mined ore would now be blended with these stockpiles to underpin the ramp-up profile.
MD Greg Bittar said the start of drill-and-blast activities represented “another major milestone” for the restart. “The stockpiles we have been processing continue to outperform our expectations, and the transition to freshly mined ore will support the ramp-up trajectory,” he said.
“The site team’s methodical planning and disciplined approach continue to support the momentum we’ve maintained as we bring Kayelekera back into production, positioning Lotus as a global uranium producer at a very exciting time for the energy sector.”
Product accreditation with uranium converters is also progressing, with samples delivered to all three major Western converters in the US, Canada and France.
Kayelekera, once operated by Paladin Energy, is one of Africa’s better-known uranium assets and is being brought back into production amid renewed demand for nuclear fuel.