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Aura Energy Limited (ASX:AEE, AIM:AURA) is pleased to announce the successful production of yellowcake product from beneficiation pilot plant concentrate samples from the Tiris Uranium Project in Mauritania. The samples used in this program were announced on 23 June 2022. The production of yellowcake in the form of uranium oxide concentrate (UOC) from the samples is a key milestone as the Company moves towards near-term Phase 1 uranium production.
KEY POINTS:
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) Minerals confirms that yellowcake product from the Tiris uranium project in Mauritania meets ASTM International specifications1.
- Key milestone in moving towards the first phase of production at the Tiris project
- Opens door to marketing discussions with leading nuclear utilities and converters
The result successfully completes the uranium recovery test work program at the ANSTO laboratory and indicates that Tiris production could be sold in the international market as a high-standard product without penalties1.
Aura’s Managing Director, Dave Woodall, commented:
“The successful production of yellowcake from material upgraded in the pilot plant is a significant step for Aura Energy. It opens the door to commercial discussions with nuclear utilities, demonstrates the simple processing parameters required for uranium oxide production at Tiris and provides a strong technical basis for moving the project forward. This will allow us to focus on operating efficiencies as we progress to a final investment decision.”
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This article includes content from Aura Energy, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
AEE:AU
GTI Energy
Investor Insight
GTI Energy presents an intriguing opportunity for investors seeking exposure to the uranium sector, given its focus on ISR projects in the US aligning well with macro trends in the nuclear energy industry and geopolitical shifts favouring domestic uranium production.
Overview
GTI Energy (ASX:GTR,OTCQB:GTRIF) is an Australia-based uranium exploration and development company focused on uranium projects in Wyoming, USA, that are amenable for in-situ recovery (ISR). In uranium mining, ISR is the lowest cost and least environmentally damaging form of uranium recovery, especially when alkaline leach and ion exchange processes are utilised.
The company’s flagship Lo Herma project in the Powder River Basin is a sandstone-hosted roll front uranium deposit, which contains a recently updated mineral resource of 8.57 million pounds (Mlbs) of U₃O₈ at an average grade of 630 parts per million (JORC 2012 compliant), with a substantial additional exploration target in the range of 6 to 11 Mlbs – GTI recently completed an interim Scoping Study on this project. GTI also holds projects in the Great Divide Basin (inferred resource of 1.66 Mlbs) and Green Mountain areas of Wyoming, as well as earlier-stage conventional uranium/vanadium assets in Utah. As of the latest update, GTI has delineated total combined uranium resources of 10.23 Mlbs (indicated and inferred) and combined exploration targets ranging from 12.14 to 15.21 million tonnes across its Wyoming projects.
Wyoming’s ISR uranium processing assets and GTI project locations
GTI is positioning itself to take advantage of the worsening uranium supply deficit and rapidly growing demand for uranium, particularly from the United States. The US remains the world’s largest consumer of uranium but imports over 95 percent of its supply. GTI’s strategy centres on developing low-cost ISR uranium projects in Wyoming – historically one of the most productive uranium regions in the US – with established infrastructure, regulatory support, and proximity to existing ISR processing facilities.
The uranium market is experiencing a serious supply deficit and a significant resurgence in demand driven by several factors:
- Supply constraints following decades of underinvestment and an overreliance on Russian and Kazakh supply chains;
- Rapid growth in global electricity demand and recognition of nuclear energy as a clean baseload source aligned with decarbonization targets;
- Geopolitical realignment leading to a bifurcated uranium market, with the US banning imports of Russian nuclear fuel as of August 2024, intensifying the urgency for domestic supply security;
- Accelerating momentum for SMRs (Small Modular Reactors), nuclear restarts, and new gigawatt-scale builds in the US and abroad.
In the United States specifically, there is bipartisan policy support for revitalising the domestic uranium industry. Key initiatives include the formation of a strategic uranium reserve, over US$6 billion in grants for existing nuclear facilities, and tax incentives for new builds under the Inflation Reduction Act. Additionally, the US Department of Energy has called for tripling US nuclear capacity to 300 gigawatts by 2050. Demand signals are also coming from private sector growth, particularly AI-driven data centre development and long-term net-zero pledges by institutional investors and banks.
GTI Energy’s project strategy
In the longer term, GTI recognises the value potential of consolidation within the fragmented US uranium sector. The company remains open to strategic partnerships, joint ventures or merger and acquisition opportunities that could accelerate its development timeline, enhance scale, and unlock synergies. Such initiatives could ultimately strengthen GTI’s path to production and improve its overall value proposition to shareholders.
Company Highlights
- GTI Energy is focused on ISR-amenable uranium projects in Wyoming, USA.
- GTI has completed an interim Scoping Study on its flagship Lo Herma project in the Powder River Basin which contains a recently updated mineral resource of 8.57 Mlbs of U₃O₈ at average grade of 630 ppm.
- GTI also holds drill permitted projects with defined resources and exploration targets in the Great Divide Basin and Green Mountain areas in Wyoming, and uranium-vanadium assets with significant recent exploration data in Utah.
- To date, GTI has delineated total combined uranium resources of 10.23 Mlbs (indicated and inferred) and substantial combined exploration targets in the range 12 to 20 Mlbs across its Wyoming projects.
- Wyoming is a historically significant uranium producing region with existing infrastructure and a supportive regulatory environment.
- GTI is well-placed to take advantage of the worsening uranium supply deficit and rapidly growing demand for uranium, particularly from the United States, the world’s largest consumer of uranium.
Key Projects
Wyoming Uranium Projects
GTI's focus on Wyoming ISR projects positions it well to capitalize on trends in the uranium sector. ISR mining is generally faster to build, lower cost, and more environmentally friendly than conventional mining methods. Wyoming has a long history of uranium production and hosts current producers and several additional permitted processing facilities, potentially allowing for rapid development of new projects.
The Wyoming projects – comprising the Lo Herma, Great Divide Basin, and Green Mountain projects – are located in the Powder River and Great Divide Basins.
JORC Resources and Exploration Targets
Lo Herma
The company’s exploration work is currently centered on advancing its 100 percent owned flagship Lo Herma project, where drilling in 2023 and 2024 successfully verified and expanded the historical drill hole database. As of December 2024, the project hosts a JORC-compliant mineral resource estimate of 8.57 Mlbs of U₃O₈ at an average grade of 630 ppm, comprising 2.78 Mlbs indicated and 5.79 Mlbs inferred.
The Lo Herma project is located just 10 miles from Cameco's Smith Ranch-Highland facility – the largest ISR uranium plant in the United States – and is ideally situated for potential future production synergies. In addition to the current resource, the company has defined an exploration target of 6 to 11 Mlbs, with over 950 drill holes completed across the project area.
GTI completed hydrogeologic field testing and metallurgical leach studies during the March 2025 quarter. Results demonstrated that Lo Herma mineralisation is amenable to alkaline ISR recovery with uranium recoveries averaging 75 percent, consistent with other ISR operations in the district.
Following the successful completion of these studies, GTI delivered an interim scoping study in Q2 2025, managed by BRS Engineering. The study confirmed the project’s potential viability and outlined attractive baseline economics for both central processing and satellite mining development options. The company is now finalising plans for a follow-up drilling campaign in H2 2025. This next phase will include infill and step-out drilling to increase overall mineral resources and upgrade resource classification, while collecting further hydrogeological and metallurgical data.
Great Divide Basin and Green Mountain
The company continues to progress its additional Wyoming projects, including the Great Divide Basin and Green Mountain areas. Drilling is permitted for 2025, positioning GTI to unlock further value across these strategic tenements.
The Great Divide Basin project includes the Thor, Logray, Loki, Odin, Teebo and Wicket claims. It holds a JORC inferred mineral resource of 1.66 Mlbs of U₃O₈ at 570 ppm, and a defined exploration target of 6.55 to 8.11 million tonnes grading 420 to 530 ppm. The area benefits from significant historical exploration data and proximity to major uranium infrastructure, including Ur-Energy’s Lost Creek plant and Rio Tinto’s Sweetwater Mill.
GTI’s footprint in this region was expanded by acquiring the Green Mountain project, which includes 5,585 hectares of contiguous claims directly adjoining Rio Tinto’s tenements. Historical drilling and geophysical surveys confirm the presence of uranium mineralisation in sandstone-hosted roll fronts within the Battle Springs formation.
Green Mountain lies adjacent to notable regional projects including Energy Fuels’ Sheep Mountain (30 Mlbs), Ur-Energy’s Lost Soldier, and UEC’s Antelope deposits, positioning GTI near major development and production infrastructure in the basin.
Utah
Henry Mountains Uranium Project
GTI’s Henry Mountains project in Utah is a brownfields uranium-vanadium opportunity located within the prolific Colorado Plateau uranium province. Exploration has focused on a 5 km mineralised trend between the Rat Nest and Jeffrey claim groups, including the Section 36 state lease.
Uranium and vanadium mineralisation in this area is shallow – typically 20 to 30 metres deep – and has historically supported significant production. Since 1904, the district has yielded more than 92 Mlbs of U₃O₈ and 482 Mlbs of V₂O₅ from sandstone-hosted ores. The project remains a strategic asset with future development or transactional optionality as GTI advances its Wyoming portfolio.
Management Team
Bruce Lane - Executive Director
Bruce Lane has significant experience with ASX-listed and large industrial companies. Lane has held management positions in many global blue-chip companies as well as resource companies and startups in New Zealand, Europe and Australia. He holds a master’s degree from London Business School and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Lane has led a number of successful acquisitions, fund raising and exploration programs of uranium and other minerals projects during the last 20 years, most notably with ASX listed companies Atom Energy, Stonehenge Metals and Fenix Resources (FEX).
Matt Hartmann - Director
ISR uranium specialist Matt Hartmann is an executive and technical leader with more than 20 years of international experience and substantial uranium exploration and project development experience. He first entered the uranium mining space in 2005 and followed a career path that has included senior technical roles with Strathmore Minerals and Uranium Resources. He is also a former principal consultant at SRK Consulting where he provided advisory services to explorers, producers and prospective uranium investors. Hartmann’s ISR uranium experience has brought him through the entire cycle of the business, from exploration, project studies and development, to production and well field reclamation. He has provided technical and managerial expertise to a large number of uranium ISR projects across the US including, Smith Ranch – Highland ISR Uranium Mine (Cameco), Rosita ISR Uranium Central Processing Plant and Wellfield (currently held by enCore Energy), the Churchrock ISR Uranium project (currently held by Laramide Resources), and the Dewey-Burdock ISR Uranium project (currently held by enCore Energy).
Simon Williamson - Non-executive Director
Simon Williamson was general manager and director of Cameco Australia until late 2023 and has significant uranium industry experience, networks and skills from his 13 years at Cameco. During his tenure with Cameco, Williamson managed relations with key government ministers and departments and community stakeholders. He managed project approvals processes, including negotiations with State and Federal agencies and reviewing the PFS for the Yeelirrie project.
Williamson was intimately involved in obtaining environmental approval for the Kintyre and Yeelirrie uranium projects, including developing and implementing a program of environmental baseline studies, government and community consultation and negotiating land access. Prior to his appointment as general manager, he led the government and regulatory affairs, environmental and radiation safety activities of Cameco in Australia.
James (Jim) Baughman - Executive Director
James Baughman is a highly experienced Wyoming uranium geologist and corporate executive who will help guide the company’s technical and commercial activities in the US. Baughman is the former president and CEO of High Plains Uranium (sold for US$55 million in 2006 to Uranium One) and Cyclone Uranium.
Baughman has more than 30 years of experience advancing minerals projects from grassroots to advanced stage. He has held senior positions (i.e., chief geologist, chairman, president, acting CFO, COO) in private and publicly traded mining & mineral exploration companies during his 30-year career.
He is a registered member of the Society of Mining, Metallurgy, Exploration and a member of the Society of Economic Geologists with a BSc in geology (1983 University of Wyoming) and is a registered professional geologist (P. Geo State of Wyoming). Baughman is a registered member of the Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME) and a qualified person (QP) on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and Australian Stock Exchange (ASX).
Petar Tomasevic - Non-executive Director
Petar Tomasevic is the managing director of Vert Capital, a financial services company specializing in mineral acquisition and asset implementation. He has worked with several ASX-listed companies in marketing and investor relations roles. Tomasevic is fluent in five languages. He is currently appointed as a French and Balkans language specialist to assist in project evaluation for ASX-listed junior explorers. Most recently, he was a director at Fenix Resources (ASX:FEX), which is now moving into the production phase. He was involved in the company’s restructuring when it was known as Emergent Resources. Tomasevic was also involved in the company’s Iron Ridge asset acquisition, the RTO financing, and the development phase of Fenix’s Iron Ridge project.
xU3O8 (uranium.io)
Investor Insight
Purpose-built for today’s energy transition, xU3O8 sits at the intersection of technology, finance, and nuclear energy, offering a simplified and transparent alternative to legacy uranium investments amid surging global demand. The xU3O8 token, now accessible on leading global exchanges, is a groundbreaking digital asset that provides direct, efficient exposure to the uranium market.
Overview
Uranium.io is a next-generation platform revolutionizing how investors access and trade physical uranium (U3O8). By leveraging blockchain technology, it enables individuals and institutions to directly own and trade uranium, bypassing many of the inefficiencies, opacity and high costs traditionally associated with uranium exposure. Each xU3O8 token represents real, physical uranium stored securely in a regulated depository operated by Cameco, with Archax, a UK-regulated digital asset firm, as the custodian for the physical uranium ensuring transparency and trust in asset backing.
The platform is designed to meet growing investor demand for exposure to uranium, a commodity that is a critical component of the global energy transition. As countries commit to reducing carbon emissions, nuclear energy is increasingly seen as a reliable and scalable source of low-carbon electricity. Governments across North America, Europe and Asia are ramping up their nuclear energy capacities, as part of their net-zero targets. This includes restarting idled reactors, constructing new reactors, and accelerating the development of small modular reactors.
Nuclear power is also emerging as a stable and scalable option for supporting artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, which require massive amounts of electricity to operate. Industry leaders, including Microsoft, have announced nuclear energy investments, and several technology firms have secured long-term agreements for nuclear power.
Like gold and silver before it, uranium is entering a phase of financialization — with physical holding trusts, ETFs, and now platforms like uranium.io offering direct physical uranium ownership via xU3O8, making it more accessible to a wider set of investors.
As traditional financial markets converge with digital innovation, tokenized assets are becoming a preferred vehicle for commodities investing. Uranium.io’s use of the Etherlink blockchain ensures secure, real-time trading with minimal friction — a distinct advantage in an increasingly digitized investment landscape.
Development of the uranium.io platform is led by the team at London-based Trilitech, a group of entrepreneurs and technologists driving blockchain innovations.
With its emphasis on direct fractional ownership and 24/7 worldwide accessibility, xU3O8 is uniquely positioned to serve as the gateway to physical uranium exposure for a global investor base. Alignment with broader energy and digital asset trends makes it a compelling vehicle for those seeking to capitalize on uranium’s strong fundamentals and the disruptive power of decentralized finance.
In July 2025, the company launched its xU3O8 token on KuCoin, MEXC, and Gate.io — ushering in a new era of uranium investment. This simultaneous, multi-platform listing marks a major milestone in the evolution of real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, delivering institutional-grade exposure to uranium markets to a combined audience of over 115 million global traders.
By debuting across multiple top-tier platforms, xU3O8 ensures broad accessibility and liquidity for investors:
- KuCoin – With over 41 million users in 200+ countries, KuCoin offers a full suite of trading services—spot, margin, options, and futures. As a technology-first exchange focused on accessibility, KuCoin shares xU3O8’s mission to dismantle traditional investment barriers.
- MEXC – Founded in 2018, MEXC serves 36 million users globally and has seen explosive 2024 growth: 143 percent increase in spot trading and 118 percent in futures. Its intuitive platform makes crypto trading “simple, accessible, and rewarding,” mirroring xU3O8’s goal of democratizing uranium investment.
- Gate.io – Ranked among the top 3 global crypto exchanges by real trading volume, Gate.io boasts 32 million users and supports over 3,600 digital assets. With institutional-grade security and a commitment to 100 percent reserve holdings, Gate.io provides the infrastructure essential for tokenized commodity trading.
Each xU3O8 token represents fractional ownership of physical uranium ore concentrate (yellowcake) securely stored by Cameco in regulated facilities, eliminating the high barriers to entry that once restricted uranium investment to institutions and major corporations.
Company Highlights
- Uranium.io is a pioneering platform for buying and selling uranium, providing direct ownership of physical uranium via a blockchain-powered token xU3O8.
- Built on Etherlink, powered by Tezos technology, enabling transparency, low fees, energy efficiency and programmable compliance.
- FCA-regulated digital asset custodian, Archax, holds physical uranium in trust on behalf of token holders.
- Physical supply is brokered by Curzon Uranium, a trusted uranium trading and logistics partner with deep industry roots and over $1 billion in uranium trades.
- The uranium bought on the platform is physically stored at a regulated depository owned and operated by Cameco, one of the world’s leading global uranium providers/converters.
- Global 24/7 market access offering fractionalized and direct uranium exposure with real-time settlement and cross-border accessibility.
- Capitalizing on nuclear energy’s role in clean energy transition and the financialization of critical minerals.
- The company has launched the xU3O8 token across three of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges: KuCoin, MEXC, and Gate.io.
Technology Platform
Uranium.io is built on a secure, decentralized technology stack that integrates blockchain infrastructure, digital asset custody, and real-world commodity supply — delivering unprecedented access and transparency to the uranium market. The platform bridges traditional commodities trading with Web3 innovation, allowing users to seamlessly acquire, hold and trade physical uranium via xU3O8 tokens.
Blockchain Infrastructure: Etherlink, Powered by Tezos
At the heart of xU3O8’s digital asset engine is the Tezos blockchain, a highly secure, energy-efficient and self-amending Layer 1 protocol. Tezos is uniquely suited to power real-world asset tokenization due to its low transaction costs and energy efficiency; on-chain governance and smart contract flexibility; and enterprise-grade security and decentralization.
Tezos’ track record with real-world assets, including tokenized real estate and art, positions it as an ideal foundation for the secure, scalable digitization of uranium ownership.
Digital Custody: Archax
To ensure that each xU3O8 token is backed with physical uranium, uranium.io is supported by Archax, a London-based, digital asset custodian and exchange regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Archax provides regulated asset custody, KYC/AML-compliant onboarding, and real-time asset reconciliation.
Archax brings institutional-grade governance and accountability to the storage and oversight of physical uranium, ensuring that investor holdings are not just theoretical but physically secured.
Physical Supply: Curzon Uranium
Access to physical uranium is facilitated by its partnership with Curzon Uranium, a specialized uranium trading and logistics firm. Curzon acts as the platform’s uranium provider, sourcing, purchasing and delivering uranium from trusted upstream suppliers to secure storage.
Curzon’s decades of experience in uranium procurement adds physical credibility and market depth to the xU3O8 ecosystem — making the platform more than just a digital asset project, but a fully integrated uranium trading platform.
Physical uranium storage: Cameco
The physical uranium ore concentrate (U3O8) is securely stored at a regulated storage facility, operated by Cameco, one of the three globally recognized uranium conversion and storage providers. For transparency, Proof of Reserves is always available on the website and is updated with monthly statements from Cameco.
Together, Tezos, Archax and Curzon Uranium form the digital, custodial and physical backbone of the uranium.io platform. This trio of technologies and partnerships ensures a secure, compliant and efficient path for investors to gain physical uranium exposure — fractionalized, tokenized and tradable 24/7 on a global scale.
