PhilDont worry, I have researched the backside out of this issue...

Phil

Dont worry, I have researched the backside out of this issue & hold no fears. In connection with you post:

Firstly: The use of alkali leaching at Langer Heinrich has nothing to do with the ore being calcrete hosted - Both Beverley & Honeymoon in SA are calcrete and they use sulphuric acid, as do many others. Paladin would use acid leach at Langer Leinrich in a heart beat if they could. Alkali leaching is a MUCH more costly & time intensive process; carbonate reagents are extremely expensive, they have to use an ENORMOUS amount of alkali solution (up to 10 times the amount used by acid leach), they have to grind the ore down to VERY fine size, this takes longer, is harsh on rollers & equipment, it creates more heat & pressure in the system, and then on top of all this the leaching process takes much longer. Acid leaching is the much better option, albeit the more environmentaly unfriendly one.

Paladin use alkali/carbonate leaching at LH because they have a high carbonate & gypsum content in the ore and have no choice ... acid leach is out of the question for them.

Now if you think that the above is a load of bull ... How about we consider what Paladin are doing at kayelekera? There too we have a sandstone uranium deposit hosted in calcrete. What extraction method are Paladin using there? Well surprise surprise, they are using the conventional sulfuric acid leach & solvent extraction method. Why the hell would they do that if 1] the alkali process was better 2] sulfuric acid was the more expensive way to go. Answer: They are doing that because acid is the best way to go. What? Do you think they will shut down kayelekera because the cost of sulfer has risen.

Secondly: The sulfuric acid shortage is being addressed as we speak ... The industry is in a rapid catchup race having being caught with its pants down after the massive increase in mining projects throughtout the world. There are numerous sulfuric acid plants under construction & in planning that will aleviate any shrotage that might exist in 2011. Here are a few:

1] 16/10/2007 - "Southern States Chemical to build a new sulfuric acid production plant" .. The plant is expected to be operational in 2009.

2] 25/6/2007 - "HELSINKI, Finland -- Outotec has agreed with The Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma'aden) on the delivery of the world's largest sulfuric acid plant project at Ras Az Zawr, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This contract covers the delivery of three sulfuric acid plants. This project will be the largest sulfuric acid production facility ever built in the world. The three plants will have a total production capacity of 13,500 tons per day of sulfuric acid. The plants are expected to be operational in 2010."

3] 5/29/2007 - "LA OROYA, Peru -- Doe Run Peru has begun construction of its third lead circuit sulfuric acid plant that will allow for the continued reduction of emissions of sulfur dioxide from the La Oroya smelter chimney. Construction of the plant is expected to be completed in September 2008."

4] December 12, 2007 - "SNC-Lavalin wins contract for Acid Plant - TORONTO - SNC-Lavalin has won a $60-million contract from a division of Glencore International AG to handle engineering and procurement for a sulphuric acid plant in eastern Kazakhstan. SNC said Wednesday that work is set to start immediately and the plant is to enter full operation in late 2009."

5] August 9, 2007 - "LONDON - Bateman Engineering NV said it has signed a contract with Dynatec Madagascar SA worth about 100 mln usd to provide sulphuric acid facilities in Madagascar. The contract covers the design, engineering and procurement of a single sulphur melting and filtration circuit with two separate 2,750 tonnes per day sulphuric acid plants. 'This contract is the first 'greenfield' sulphuric acid plant to be built by Bateman Engineering in the recent past and therefore marks an important re-entry into this significant utility market"

7] March 11, 2008 – "Karachi - Engro Chemical Pakistan Ltd confirmed on Monday that it was going to form a joint venture with Ferphos of Algeria to produce sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid and associated utilities. The project is expected to be constructed in a period of four years in Algeria after the completion of feasibility study by the joint venture. The complex will consist of three 4,500 tonnes per day units of sulphuric acid, and three 1,500 tonnes per day units of phosphoric acid."

So Phil, as I mentioned before, I have no problems with you selling, thats fine ... but this bug you have about sulfer is a storm in a teacup

cheers