UUUU reports financial results. As expected, Energy Fuels completed another year of limited production and sales due to depressed uranium prices. On a positive note, losses decreased due to cost reductions and there are signs that uranium prices may be improving. The operating loss for the year was $24.6 million vs. $40.6 million and $34.0 million expected, and EPS was $(0.23) vs. $(0.40) and $(0.28) expected. Call on Tuesday at 4:00 pm ET (888-664-6392). The company shored up its balance sheet and appears ready to expand. Management took advantage of share price strength to raise $30.4 million on its ATM program pushing working capital to $40.2 million ($22.4 million cash/mkt sec). The company has no debt. Both numbers are up sharply from last year and leave Energy Fuels in a good position to weather another year of operating losses if uranium prices do not improve. Management is prepared to forego sales at current prices and build up its inventory. The company has no remaining uranium contracts and all inventory and future production is unhedged. Uranium producers and purchasers seem to be at a standstill with producers unwilling to sell at prices below $40/lb and purchasers unwilling to sign contracts at prices above the current spot price of $27/lb. Nuclear plants have been meeting supply through international purchases (cheap sources are running out), depleting inventory, uranium underfeeding and weapons degrading — all short-term strategies. Meanwhile, UUUU is planning on expanding inventories in anticipation of a price rise possibly enhanced by the creation of a national uranium reserve ($75 million approved in the last budget for reserve). Keep an eye on Vanadium and Rare Earth Element (REE) developments. The company has accelerated the mining of Vanadium, which is seeing prices rise, and the production of REE. Mark Chalmers (P & CEO) referred to REE at the best resource opportunity in his 45-year mining career. At this point, we view Vanadium and REE as wild cards that are not significant contributors to results, but could become significant in the future. We continue to rate the shares of UUUU as Market Perform with the stock trading near our fair value estimate, which does not include value for Vanadium or REE.Read More >>
Energy Fuels - Energy Fuels Restocks its Balance Sheet and Inventories
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Small Modular Reactors Spark Interest as Nuclear Energy and Uranium Gain Steam
As nuclear energy and uranium continue to attract renewed attention from both investors and the general public, technological advances are bringing small modular reactors (SMRs) to the forefront.
SMRs vary in size and power, but are essentially smaller-scale versions of traditional nuclear reactors. Although it's still early days, they've been praised by industry insiders for various reasons, including their size and relative simplicity.
During the latest Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention, several uranium companies and expert voices highlighted SMRs as a key component of the market moving forward. They also discussed the moment nuclear energy is having in the eyes of investors, and shared their thoughts on what’s needed to move the industry forward.
Nuclear energy sentiment strong on PDAC floor
“I think there’s been a massive transformation in the way that people view uranium,” Siobhan Lancaster, CEO of 92 Energy (ASX:92E,OTCQX:NTELF), told the Investing News Network on the PDAC floor.
The uranium executive said the ongoing dialogue around decarbonization has been a significant motivator for renewed interest in nuclear energy. She sees a shift in attitudes toward nuclear energy as something that is allowing the industry to find a bigger path.
“You’re seeing people starting to understand that nuclear energy really has the ability to decarbonize the globe,” Lancaster said.
Anthony Balme, chairman of Forum Energy Metals (TSXV:FMC,OTCQB:FDCFF), echoed Lancaster, saying more people are recognizing the role this energy source will have to play moving forward. “I think everyone realizes now that nuclear energy is going to become an essential part of the energy mix, and we can’t survive just on wind and solar,” he said.
Lancaster added that there’s been a significant uptick in nuclear energy interest thanks to the development of one particular technology: SMRs. “You see that conversation changing with that new emerging technology,” she said.
Major uranium players highlight SMRs at convention
PDAC featured talks from several companies working on SMR projects of various scopes and reaches, including:
- Denison Mines (TSX:DML,NYSEAMERICAN:DNN)
- Westinghouse Electric
- X-Energy
- Ultrasafe Nuclear
During their presentations, the companies hit similar bullet points on safety and usability as they highlighted the efficacy of SMRs. One theme was evident throughout — interest in these sources of power is seemingly growing by the day.
Ultrasafe Nuclear has signed several principal deals with universities across the globe for the deployment of its microreactor.
Rosemary Yeremian, the company's vice president of business development, touted the ability of SMRs to offer long-lasting, safe access to nuclear energy for different types of facilities, potentially even mines. As miners try to reduce expenses across their operations, it's possible that SMRs could be an alternative way to power projects.
The rest of the SMR firms stressed the option for these reactors to operate without the need to be close to a body of water. They also endorsed the potential for this technology to be deployed speedily.
“We don’t get burdened with large construction challenges,” said Eddie Saab, president of Westinghouse Electric’s division in Canada. He added that microreactor projects can be tackled more efficiently and deployed faster.
Geopolitical conditions affect uranium strategy
Decarbonization efforts and the development of new technologies are helping to shift global perspectives on the nuclear industry, but the current geopolitical landscape is another pressure point creating change.
Russia has faced severe sanctions in various industries due to its invasion of Ukraine, including bans and price caps on oil and gas. These restrictions have highlighted the need for alternative energy sources.
In Canada, leading uranium company Cameco (TSX:CCO,NYSE:CCJ) teamed up last year with Brookfield Renewable Partners, an investment firm focused on clean energy, to acquire Westinghouse Electric for US$7.9 billion.
“We’re witnessing some of the best market fundamentals we’ve ever seen in the nuclear energy sector,” Tim Gitzel, CEO of Cameco, said last October when the transaction was announced, also mentioning the increasing importance of energy security.
The US is also taking steps to reduce its exposure to Russian energy. In the summer of 2022, the country officially began looking to create a uranium reserve using material sourced from approved companies.
A January market report from Sprott notes that the strategy includes an initial investment of US$75 million and states that the nation has so far signed deals with the following companies:
- Energy Fuels (NYSEAMERICAN:UUUU,TSX:EFR)
- Uranium Energy (NYSEAMERICAN:UEC)
- Peninsula Energy (ASX:PEN,OTCQB:PENMF)
- Encore Energy (NYSEAMERICAN:EU,TSXV:EU)
- Ur-Energy (NYSEAMERICAN:URG,TSX:URE)
Days after PDAC, a group of senators introduced legislation geared at banning imports of Russian uranium. The US currently gets nearly 15 percent of its uranium from Russia, while 35 percent comes from Kazakhstan.
Investor takeaway
The latest edition of PDAC offered investors another shot at seeing firsthand the evolution of nuclear energy and how excited companies in this space are for the path ahead.
The groundwork is being built for the future of this industry, and the critical need for alternative energy sources is beginning to take over the dialogue surrounding the reputation of nuclear energy.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Bryan Mc Govern, hold no investment interest in any of the companies mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: Forum Energy Metals and Energy Fuels are clients of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid-for content.
The Investing News Network does not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the information reported in the interviews it conducts. The opinions expressed in these interviews do not reflect the opinions of the Investing News Network and do not constitute investment advice. All readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence.
Energy Fuels: Uranium, Rare Earths in Strong Position, Secure Supply Needed
As the energy transition gains steam, uranium and rare earths are at the top of the list when it comes to securing supply.
Energy Fuels (TSX:EFR,NYSEAMERICAN:UUUU) is a US producer of both of these materials, and Curtis Moore, the company's senior vice president of marketing and corporate development, said output is in the process of ramping up.
Speaking first about uranium, he explained that Energy Fuels recently signed several contracts with US utilities; it also sold US$18.5 million worth of uranium to the American government's strategic uranium reserve.
"There's an evolution happening right now as companies try to move away from all this Russian supply, and I think there's a lot more to come," said Moore at the the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention.
He also spoke about Energy Fuels' acquisition of a Brazilian rare earths and heavy metals project. Essentially, the company will be able to process monazite from the property at its White Mesa mill in Utah, creating an intermediate rare earths product.
That intermediate product is currently being sent to a separation facility in Estonia, but Energy Fuels eventually plans to do this step at White Mesa as well. "We actually think that we're going to be producing more rare earth oxides, light rare earth oxides — NdPR oxide — than that facility in (Estonia). If we're successful, we'll be the second largest producer of separated NdPr oxide in the world outside of China by late this year or early next year — we're making this investment right now," Moore said.
"We're not moving away from uranium at all, but this rare earth opportunity is amazing for us," he added.
Watch the interview above for more of Moore's thoughts on the uranium and rare earths sectors, plus the path forward for Energy Fuels. You can also click here for the Investing News Network's full PDAC playlist on YouTube.
Don't forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: Energy Fuels is a client of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid-for content.
The Investing News Network does not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the information reported in the interviews it conducts. The opinions expressed in these interviews do not reflect the opinions of the Investing News Network and do not constitute investment advice. All readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence.
Non-Renounceable Entitlement Offer Cleansing Notice Under Section 708AA(2)(F) Of The Corporations Act 2001 (CTH)
The Directors of GTI Energy Ltd (ASX: GTR, GTR or the Company) give notice under section 708AA(2)(f) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Corporations Act).
GTR announced on 16 March 2023 it is seeking to raise approximately $1,354,935 (before costs) by way of a fully underwritten non-renounceable entitlement offer (Entitlement Offer).
Under the Entitlement Offer, eligible shareholders are invited to subscribe for one (1) fully paid ordinary share (Offer Shares) for every ten (10) fully paid ordinary shares held as at 5.00pm (AWST) on 23 March 2023. Investors subscribing for Offer Shares will also be eligible to receive one (1) free attaching option for every two (2) Offer Shares issued. Full details of the underwriting arrangements and the potential impact on the Company are outlined in the Offer Document.
GTR confirms that:
1. The securities will be offered pursuant to the Entitlement Offer without disclosure under Part 6D.2 of the Corporations Act.
2. This notice is being given under section 708AA(2)(f) of the Corporations Act.
3. As at the date of this notice, GTR has complied with:
a) the provisions of Chapter 2M of the Corporations Act as they apply to GTR; and
b) section 674 of the Corporations Act.
4. As at the date of this notice, there is no excluded information of the type referred to in sections 708AA(8) and 708AA(9) of the Corporations Act that is required to be set out in this notice under section 708AA(7) of the Corporations Act.
5.The potential effect that the issue of securities will have on the control of GTR, and the consequences of that effect, will depend on a number of factors, including investor demand. To the extent that eligible shareholders fail to take up their entitlements under the Offer, the percentage of holdings of those shareholders in GTR may be diluted by those other shareholders who take up some, all or more than their entitlement. An outline of the most likely scenarios is as follows:
a) If all Eligible Shareholders take up their Entitlement, the Entitlement Offer will have no effect on the control of the Company.
b) In the more likely event that some but not all Eligible Shareholders participate in the Entitlement Offer, any Eligible Shareholder that fails to take up their Entitlement will have their percentage holding in the Company diluted by those other Eligible
Shareholders who take up some, all or more than their Entitlement, the Shortfall, or by the Underwriter as follows:
(i) Eligible Shareholders who have applied for their full entitlement of Offer Shares under the Entitlement Offer will be offered an opportunity to apply for further shares in excess of their entitlement (Additional Shares). Additional Shares will only be available under the if all Eligible Shareholders have not taken up their full entitlements under the Entitlement Offer.
(ii) To the extent that any shortfall remains after allocation of Additional Shares, the Directors (at their discretion) may offer any Shortfall to other investors in accordance with the ASX Listing Rules and Corporations Act.
(iii) The Company does not anticipate that the placement or non-placement of the Shortfall by the Directors will have any material effect on the control of the Company, and does not expect there to be any consequences for shareholders other than a normal dilutionary effect in respect of shareholders who do not accept their Entitlement.
(iv) To the extent that any Shortfall remains after the allocation of Additional Shares, that final Shortfall will then be taken up by the Underwriter pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement (Underwritten Securities). The Underwriters will be required to take up those Underwritten Securities. The potential effect of control that may arise as a result of the Underwriting Agreement is set out in section 5.5 of the Offer Document.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from GTI 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.
Interim Financial Report - 31 December 2022
Aura Energy Limited (ASX:AEE, AIM:AURA) is pleased to present its Half Year Report.
Review of operations and activities
Financial review
Aura Energy Limited ("Aura", or the "Company") has reported a loss for the half-year ended 31 December 2022 of $3,316,842 (31 December 2021: $624,048). As at 31 December 2022, the consolidated entity's net assets decreased to $33,146,135 compared with $33,614,450 as at 30 June 2022, including cash reserves of $6,203,179 (30 June 2022: $9,950,777).
Review of operations
The Company is an ASX and AIM listed resources company, transitioning from exploration to production from the Tiris Uranium Project in Mauritania and ongoing development of the Häggån Vanadium Polymetallic Project, Sweden. The Company also holds gold and base metals projects in Mauritania.
During the six-month period to 31 December 2022 (the “Period”), Aura completed product analysis and infill drilling activities at its flagship Tiris Project in Mauritania, and accelerated the transition to development activities under a revised strategy, with multiple milestones due to be reached in the second half of FY23.
Tiris Uranium Project (“Tiris” or the “Project”), Mauritania
The Tiris project is the Company’s flagship project.
Demand for uranium is expected to grow significantly over the next two decades. The Company has the potential to develop a low-capital/low-operating-cost mining project for the benefit of the Company’s shareholders and the Mauritanian people. The World Nuclear Association (WNA) has reported that there are currently 60 nuclear reactors under construction around the world, 104 nuclear reactors in the planning phase and 338 nuclear reactors being evaluated and proposed around the world by various governments and entities. The WNA reports that approximately half of the forecast growth in nuclear power generation will be in China.
During the Period, the Company:
- Completed 11,600 metres of infill drilling program, which increased Measured & Indicated Resources by 52% to 58.9 million pounds of U3O8 , 113 million tonnes at 236 ppm U3O8 at a 100 ppm cut-off grade.
- Completed initial radiometric fieldwork with the goal of growing resources.
- The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) undertook, leaching, Ion Exchange and purification tests on pilot plant products in Sydney and confirmed that the uranium product planned to be produced at the Tiris Project will meet ASTM International specifications (there are approximately 12,500 global standards set by this international body which has 140 countries as members). These beneficiation trials have cleared the way for marketing discussions with downstream nuclear utilities and converters.
- Submitted management plans for authorisation of uranium production and export to the National Authority for Radiation-protection, Safety and Nuclear Security (“ARSN”) in Mauritania.
The Company:
- Progressed, on schedule, the optimisation of the Tiris project feasibility study, which is assessing the feasibility to increase the annual production target of U3O8. The Company’s goal is to complete the optimisation feasibility study during the January-March 2023 quarter which will provide key inputs for the Front-End Engineering and Design ("FEED") studies.
- Commenced the FEED studies.
Subsequently to the Period end, the Company executed a 30-year Mining Convention with the Government of Mauritania a 30-year Mining Convention for the Tiris project. The Convention was announced on 1 February 2023. This agreement confirms the security of tenure and the fiscal stability that enables the development of the Tiris Project and near-term uranium production.
Click here for the full ASX Release
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.
Fully Underwritten Rights Issue
GTI Energy Ltd (GTI or Company) is pleased to advise that existing shareholders, on the record date, will be offered the opportunity to participate in a non-renounceable pro-rata rights entitlement offer of 150,548,357 Shares on a 1 for 10 basis at an issue price of $0.009 per Share, to raise $1,354,935 before costs, with 1 free attaching GTRO option for every 2 Shares subscribed (Entitlements Offer Option) (Entitlements Offer or Offer).
CPS Capital Group Pty Ltd has agreed to fully underwrite the Entitlements Offer and will receive a 6% cash fee for the funds raised under the Entitlements Offer. CPS may, by negotiation, pay a placing fee to third parties of up to 4%, plus GST where applicable under the Entitlements Offer shortfall (Shortfall). CPS or its nominee/s will also receive 20,000,000 listed GTRO options for underwriting the Entitlements Offer (Underwriting Fee Options) and up to 13,549,352 listed GTRO options on the basis of 10 GTRO Options for every $1 placed of the Shortfall (Shortfall Placement Fee Options).
The Underwriting Fee Options & Shortfall Placement Fee Options will be issued using the Company’s existing capacity pursuant to ASX Listing Rule 7.1.
Funds raised from the Offer will be used to fund the development and exploration of the Lo Herma Project, pay costs of the Offer and for working capital.
TABLE 1: PROFORMA CAPITAL STRUCTURE AFTER THE ENTITELEMENTS OFFER
TABLE 2: ENTITLEMENTS OFFER (RIGHTS ISSUE) INDICATIVE TIMETABLE
*The Directors may extend the Closing Date by giving at least 3 Business Days’ notice to ASX prior to the Closing Date. As such the date the Shares are expected to commence trading on ASX may vary.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from GTI 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.
Byron King: Today's Mining Bargains Could Create "Life-changing Wealth"
Diverse mining stocks are trading at discounted prices, but a new era of resource scarcity could change that.
Speaking to the Investing News Network, Byron King of Paradigm Press said that supply of many metals won't be able to keep up with growing demand. Eventually prices for both commodities and company shares will be squeezed higher.
"When just a little bit of that money that's invested in all these tech-y things and all these biotech-y things and all these other things that buoy the rest of the big market — when just a fraction of that starts to trickle over into the hard asset space, the mining space, you're going to see astonishing rocket rides with many, many companies," he commented.
"In some of these spaces we're looking at 100 baggers, 200 baggers (in the next few years). I mean, this is going to be just life-changing wealth for people who get in," he said at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention.
It's impossible to know in advance which stocks may see these major gains, but King shared a number of companies he's looking at in the uranium, rare earths and graphite industries, all of which are facing concerns about supply.
In uranium, King pointed to Uranium Energy (NYSEAMERICAN:UEC), Energy Fuels (TSX:EFR,NYSEAMERICAN:UUUU), Ur-Energy (TSX:URE,NYSEAMERICAN:URG) and Cameco (TSX:CCO,NYSE:CCJ) as interesting players. He brought up Energy Fuels again in relation to rare earths, as well as Ucore Rare Metals (TSXV:UCU,OTCQX:UURAF), and on the graphite side he mentioned Northern Graphite (TSXV:NGC,OTCQB:NGPHF) and NextSource Materials (TSX:NEXT,OTCQB:NSRCF)NSRCF).
Watch the interview above for more of King's thoughts on uranium, rare earths and graphite, plus gold sector M&A activity. You can also click here for the Investing News Network's full PDAC playlist on YouTube.
Don't forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: Energy Fuels and NextSource Materials are clients of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid-for content.
The Investing News Network does not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the information reported in the interviews it conducts. The opinions expressed in these interviews do not reflect the opinions of the Investing News Network and do not constitute investment advice. All readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence.
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