Rio-Tinto sees Namibia uranium expansion

UPDATE 1-Rio sees Namibia uranium expansion in 2008
Reuters - USA
CAPE TOWN, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Mining giant Rio Tinto Plc (RIO. L: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Tuesday that it hoped to complete its expansion of its Rossing uranium operations in Namibia later this year. "We also have expansion projects (at Rossing) that we hope to come to fruition later this year," Preston Chiaro, chief executive of Rio Tinto's energy division, said in a presentation to the Indaba African mining conference in Cape Town. The expansion of Rossing, a large open-pit uranium mine and the world's biggest low-grade uranium producer, includes a new sulphur burning acid plant on the mining site and sulphur storage in the Walvis Bay harbour. Its cost is expected to be at least $112 million ... Rossing's mining life was extended to 2016 in 2005 and is expected to be further extended to 2021 after the expansion. Rio Tinto owns 68.6 percent of Rossing, which has been in production since 1976 and is one of several key uranium developments in Namibia ...