JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – TSX- and JSE-listed First Uranium has started production from the uranium plant at its Ezulwini underground gold and uranium mine, in South Africa.

CEO Gordon Miller said on Friday, when First Uranium released its March quarterly production report, that the company was now a member of a “select group” of uranium-producing miners.

“…[First Uranium is] among an even smaller group of uranium miners that are so far unencumbered by contracts or partnerships with nuclear utilities or government agencies,” he added.

In the fourth and final quarter, First Uranium processed 1,69-million tons of reclaimed tailings at its Mine Waste Solutions (MWS) tailings recovery project, and milled 108 622 t of gold ore from low-grade stockpiles at Ezulwini.

For the full-year ended March, First Uranium processed 6,9-million tons of reclaimed tailings at MWS and milled 232 715 t of ore at Ezulwini.The miner sold 42 857 oz of gold from MWS and 10 796 oz of gold from Ezulwini.

The company targeted gold sales of 45 461 oz from MWS and 19 001 oz from Ezulwini. It explained that the lower gold sales from Ezulwini were primarily owing to the decreased mining activity and the processing of the low-grade surface stockpile, while the shaft rehabilitation work was being completed.

At MWS, decreased throughput, grade and recovery during the fourth quarter of 2009 were primarily owing to a lower feed grade and higher clay content, combined with intermittent work stoppages owing to unusually severe thunderstorms during the recently-ended rainy season.

First Uranium reported that its shaft rehabilitation project at Ezulwini had gone according to plan, and that it no longer interfered with the development of the mine or the extraction of ore and that allowed for the hoist to operate at the optimal speed for the current production profile.

The extraction sequence for destressing the shaft pillar was proceeding according to the desired design specifications, it added.

“Although we have experienced some start-up delays in commissioning our operations, I continue to be impressed by what the First Uranium team has been able to achieve in a very short time; producing gold at both operations and our initial uranium production at Ezulwini,” Miller said.

The company expects to announce its annual results for the 2009 financial year by mid-June.