Lotus Ships First Uranium Consignment from Malawi’s Kayelekera Mine

Lotus Resources has dispatched its first uranium ore concentrate shipment from the Kayelekera mine in northern Malawi, marking a major milestone in the operation’s restart after more than a decade out of production.

The shipment comprises four containers holding approximately 145,000 pounds of uranium oxide . The consignment left the mine site on 2 November and is travelling by road through Zambia to Namibia’s Port of Walvis Bay, where it is scheduled for shipment to France in November. Delivery to Orano CE’s conversion facility is expected by the end of 2026.

Export route opens for Malawian uranium

The shipment follows a series of regulatory approvals across Malawi, Zambia and Namibia. Namibia’s National Radiation Protection Authority granted the final key transport and export authorisation in late October, clearing the way for the first consignment to leave the mine.

Lotus is using the Walvis Bay route because Malawi is landlocked. The uranium will cross Zambia and Namibia before being shipped to Orano CE in France, where the concentrate will undergo conversion as part of the nuclear fuel supply chain. Logistics partner Alistair Group helped secure the required transport licence for the Zambian leg.

The departure moves Kayelekera closer to generating revenue from renewed production. Lotus managing director Greg Bittar described the dispatch as a key step towards delivering product to customers and beginning to generate cash flow. The company expects further shipments to leave the site before the end of the year.

Production ramp-up remains a priority

Lotus restarted Kayelekera in 2025 after the mine had remained on care and maintenance since 2014. The operation previously produced about 11 million pounds of uranium between 2009 and 2014.

The mine is still working to improve processing performance. In its September 2026 quarterly report, Lotus recorded uranium production of 101,800 pounds from 31 operating days. Recovery rates improved to 69% for the quarter and reached 80% in September, although interruptions linked to power supply and the sulphuric acid plant have affected operations.

Lotus holds an 85% interest in Kayelekera through its subsidiary, Lotus Africa, while the Malawi Government holds the remaining 15%.