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Energy Fuels Announces Election of Directors
Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR) ("Energy Fuels" or the "Company") a leading U.S.-based critical minerals company, announces the results of the election of directors at its annual and special meeting of shareholders (the " Meeting ") held virtually on June 11, 2024 .
The ten (10) nominees proposed by management for election as directors were elected by the shareholders of the Company, through a combination of votes by proxy and electronic poll, as follows:
Nominee | Votes For | % For | Votes Withheld or | % Withheld or |
J. Birks Bovaird | 45,321,752 | 91.23 % | 4,358,256 | 8.77 % |
Mark S. Chalmers | 47,226,027 | 95.06 % | 2,453,981 | 4.94 % |
Benjamin Eshleman III | 47,674,386 | 95.96 % | 2,005,622 | 4.04 % |
Ivy V. Estabrooke | 47,119,198 | 94.85 % | 2,560,810 | 5.15 % |
Barbara A. Filas | 46,967,300 | 94.54 % | 2,712,708 | 5.46 % |
Bruce D. Hansen | 47,922,396 | 96.46 % | 1,757,612 | 3.54 % |
Jaqueline Herrera | 46,948,646 | 94.50 % | 2,731,362 | 5.50 % |
Dennis L. Higgs | 48,312,025 | 97.25 % | 1,367,983 | 2.75 % |
Robert W. Kirkwood | 47,763,461 | 96.14 % | 1,916,547 | 3.86 % |
Alexander G. Morrison | 48,511,981 | 97.65 % | 1,168,027 | 2.35 % |
About Energy Fuels : Energy Fuels is a leading U.S.-based uranium and critical minerals company. The Company, as a leading producer of uranium in the United States , mines uranium and produces natural uranium concentrates that are sold to major nuclear utilities for the production of carbon-free nuclear energy. Energy Fuels recently began production of advanced rare earth element (" REE ") materials, including mixed REE carbonate in 2021, and commenced production of commercial quantities of separated REEs in 2024. Energy Fuels also produces vanadium from certain of its projects, as market conditions warrant, and is evaluating the recovery of radionuclides needed for emerging cancer treatments. Its corporate offices are in Lakewood, Colorado , near Denver , and substantially all its assets and employees are in the United States . Energy Fuels holds two of America's key uranium production centers: the White Mesa Mill in Utah and the Nichols Ranch in-situ recovery (" ISR ") Project in Wyoming . The White Mesa Mill is the only conventional uranium mill operating in the U.S. today, has a licensed capacity of over 8 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year and has the ability to produce vanadium when market conditions warrant, as well as REE products, from various uranium-bearing ores. The Nichols Ranch ISR Project is on standby and has a licensed capacity of 2 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year. The Company recently acquired the Bahia Project in Brazil and entered into a joint venture agreement to develop the Donald Project in Australia , each of which is believed to have significant quantities of titanium (ilmenite and rutile), zirconium (zircon) and REE (monazite) minerals. In addition to the above production facilities, Energy Fuels also has one of the largest NI 43-101 compliant uranium resource portfolios in the U.S. and several uranium and uranium/vanadium mining projects in production, on standby and in various stages of permitting and development. The primary trading market for Energy Fuels' common shares is the NYSE American under the trading symbol "UUUU," and the Company's common shares are also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "EFR." Energy Fuels' website is www.energyfuels.com .
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Energy Fuels Achieves Commercial Production of 'On-Spec' Separated Rare Earths at its White Mesa Mill in Utah, While Simultaneously Advancing Uranium Production
Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR) ( "Energy Fuels" or the "Company" ), a leading U.S. producer of uranium, rare earth elements (" REEs "), and vanadium, is pleased to announce that it has achieved commercial production of separated neodymium-praseodymium (" NdPr ") at its White Mesa Mill in Utah (the " Mill "). Critically, the NdPr produced by Energy Fuels' meets the applicable product specifications of REE metal-makers, who specialize in the manufacture of REE-based alloys required for the permanent magnets widely used for electric motors in both battery powered electric vehicles (" EVs ") and dual power hybrids. Further, this 'on-spec' NdPr is now able to be produced by Energy Fuels at the full design capacity of its new Phase 1 REE separation circuit (850 to 1,000 metric tons (" tonnes ") of NdPr per year). The Company expects to have commercial quantities of separated NdPr available for shipment by the end of June 2024 . Energy Fuels believes this is the first time in several decades that a U.S. company has produced on-spec separated REE's from monazite on a commercial scale.
The Company is extracting, refining and separating the NdPr from monazite produced by The Chemours Company (" Chemours ") at its heavy mineral sand (" HMS ") operations in Florida and Georgia . Energy Fuels began piloting REE separations in 2021, and later performed partial REE separations in 2022 and 2023. The Company used this experience, having compiled several years of real-time data, to custom design and construct its new Phase 1 REE separation circuit at the Mill, which is now operating as designed. The Company would also like to highlight both the speed at which the circuit has reached full design capacity, and the fact that it has not experienced complications with start-up, which are so typical with the commissioning of new equipment and processes. Energy Fuels also completed construction of its Phase 1 REE Separation Circuit in Q1-2024 for a total cost of only about $16 million, which was significantly under the original budget of $25 million and a further testament to the capabilities of the Mill and the years of solvent extraction (" SX ") experience and technical expertise of Mill personnel. Also of note, the addition of REE separation processes has not hindered the ability or capacity of the Company to produce uranium at the Mill, and preparations are being made to commence a uranium ore and alternate feed uranium-bearing material processing campaign in Q3-2024.
During Q2-2024, the Company expects to produce about 25 to 35 tonnes of on-spec, separated NdPr from the monazite Energy Fuels has in inventory at this time. From the new circuit, Energy Fuels also expects to produce a samarium-plus (" Sm+ "), "heavy" REE concentrate, while also recovering the contained uranium from the monazite feed stocks. The Company expects to utilize this Sm+ concentrate to continue pilot-scale dysprosium (" Dy ") and terbium (" Tb ") separation and to design SX circuits at the Mill able to produce these "heavy" REE products in separated individual forms at the specifications required for metal and alloy making. Currently, there is no company in the Western Hemisphere capable of commercially producing separated, on-spec Dy, Tb, or other "heavy" REE products. NdPr, Dy, and Tb are known as the "magnet" REE's, as they are key and necessary ingredients in the powerful magnets used in the most efficient EVs, dual power hybrid vehicles, direct-drive wind energy, military and defense technologies, and other clean energy applications.
Following completion of NdPr production at the Mill in Q2-2004, the Company expects to begin processing uranium ore and alternate feed materials from our current stockpiles, resulting in the expected production of 150,000 to 500,000 pounds of U 3 O 8 during 2024, with production ramping up further in 2025. As previously announced, Energy Fuels has also acquired, or is in the process of acquiring, several HMS projects to secure monazite, which we believe will be globally cost-competitive, to supply future REE separation at the Mill. This includes the Bahia Project in Brazil that the Company acquired in February 2023 , the Donald Project joint venture that the Company announced on June 3, 2024 , and the pending acquisition of Base Resources and the Toliara Project in Madagascar , which in aggregate have the potential to make Energy Fuels one of the largest separated REE producers in the world. The Company expects to receive material quantities of monazite from these projects commencing as early as 2026. In the meantime, the Company plans to focus operations on an aggressive campaign of uranium production during the second half of 2024, all of 2025, and thereafter to supply U.S. uranium into the Company's portfolio of uranium contracts with U.S. nuclear utilities, in addition to additional spot and contract sales into uranium market strength.
MARK S. CHALMERS , PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ENERGY FUELS STATED:
"We have achieved a significant milestone for the Energy Fuels, for Utah , and for the United States : the commercial production of separated rare earths that meet applicable product specifications, while simultaneously ramping up domestic uranium production aggressively. I wish to congratulate the entire team at the White Mesa Mill for bringing commercial rare earth separation capabilities and expertise back to the United States , and for achieving this major accomplishment ahead of schedule and under budget. With this announcement, Energy Fuels can confirm the return of separated rare earth production from monazite back to the United States after a multi-decade absence, in addition to the return of technological know-how and expertise in this extremely important field that is critical to national and economic security.
"Due to the overwhelming success of Energy Fuels' Phase 1 REE separation project, Energy Fuels can now continue to advance its rare earth initiatives with an extremely high degree of confidence. This includes a potential expansion of standalone rare earth separation capabilities at the Mill to 4,000 to 6,000 tonnes of NdPr per year, along with 150 to 225 tonnes of Dy, and 50 to 75 tonnes of Tb, through development of our planned Phase 2 and Phase 3 REE separation circuits. While our recently commissioned Phase 1 Separation circuit is globally significant and would rank the Company as one of the leading producers of separated REEs in the world outside of China , our planned Phase 2 and Phase 3 Separation Circuits would truly be world-class. In addition, we are building a world-class portfolio of heavy mineral sand assets to control our supply of low-cost monazite. We are also ramping-up pilot testing on 'heavy' rare earth separation, with a focus on Dy and Tb. Due to knowledge gained from NdPr, we are confident we will be able to produce on-spec Dy, Tb, and any other separated rare earth products and to design, engineer, permit, construct and commission our Phase 2 and Phase 3 REE separation circuits within budget and time-frame expectations. Our capital investments in the planned Phase 2 and Phase 3 REE separation circuits will be conditional on receipt of suitable customer and/or government backing in the form of supply agreements, offtake agreements and/or financial support. We believe we are in an enviable position to secure this support, based on our proven rare earth processing, refining and separation capabilities and the world-class monazite supply chain we have secured and are securing. I am very pleased that all things are coming together and that we are emerging as a leading U.S. rare earth producer, in addition to advancing our position as a U.S-leading producer of uranium and vanadium.
"Once we conclude this run of separated NdPr, we plan to focus on the processing of our substantial stockpiled uranium ore and alternate feed material inventories at the Mill and the continued ramp-up of our uranium mining, production and sales. At the same time, we plan to design and permit a world-class expansion of REE separation at the Mill -- which is only about four to six times greater than what we have already achieved. Importantly, we will also continue to market our REE products to customers and evaluate government funding collaborations."
ABOUT ENERGY FUELS
Energy Fuels is a leading US-based uranium and critical minerals company. The Company, as a leading producer of uranium in the United States , mines uranium and produces natural uranium concentrates that are sold to major nuclear utilities for the production of carbon-free nuclear energy. Energy Fuels recently began production of advanced REE materials, including mixed REE carbonate in 2021, and commenced production of commercial quantities of separated REEs in 2024. Energy Fuels also produces vanadium from certain of its projects, as market conditions warrant, and is evaluating the recovery of radionuclides needed for emerging cancer treatments. Its corporate offices are in Lakewood, Colorado , near Denver , and substantially all its assets and employees are in the United States . Energy Fuels holds two of America's key uranium production centers: the White Mesa Mill in Utah and the Nichols Ranch in-situ recovery (" ISR ") Project in Wyoming . The White Mesa Mill is the only conventional uranium mill operating in the US today, has a licensed capacity of over 8 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year, and has the ability to produce vanadium when market conditions warrant, as well as REE products, from various uranium-bearing ores. The Nichols Ranch ISR Project is on standby and has a licensed capacity of 2 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year. The Company recently acquired the Bahia Project in Brazil and entered into a joint venture agreement to develop the Donald Project in Australia , each of which is believed to have significant quantities of titanium (ilmenite and rutile), zirconium (zircon) and REE (monazite) minerals. In addition to the above production facilities, Energy Fuels also has one of the largest NI 43-101 compliant uranium resource portfolios in the US and several uranium and uranium/vanadium mining projects in production, on standby and in various stages of permitting and development. The primary trading market for Energy Fuels' common shares is the NYSE American under the trading symbol "UUUU," and the Company's common shares are also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "EFR." Energy Fuels' website is www.energyfuels.com .
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains certain "Forward Looking Information" and "Forward Looking Statements" within the meaning of applicable United States and Canadian securities legislation, which may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: any expectation that the Company will maintain its position as a leading U.S.-based uranium and critical minerals company or as the leading producer of uranium in the U.S.; any expectation as to production levels or timing or duration of production from the Bahia Project, the Donald Project, the Toliara Project or any of the Company's other mines or projects; any expectation as to costs of production at the Bahia Project, the Donald Project, the Toliara Project or any of the Company's other mines or projects, or that the Company will secure monazite at globally competitive costs; any expectation that the Company may be successful in entering the REE metal, alloy, and/or magnet-making space; any expectation that the addition of REE production will not diminish in any way the Company's U.S. leading uranium production capabilities; any expectation that any ore reserves estimated to date will accurately reflect actual reserves or resources; any expectation that the Company will be successful in advancing its REE initiatives or that it will be successful in installing REE production capacity at the Mill and the timing of installation of any such production capacity; any expectation that the Company's REE and other products will and will continue to meet commercial specifications; any expectation as to when the Company will have commercial quantities of separated NdPr available for shipment; any expectation that the Company's planned Phase 2 and Phase 3 separation circuits will be developed and if developed would be world-class; any expectation that the Company's planned Phase 2 and Phase 3 separation circuits if developed, would be developed within budget and time-frame expectations; any expectation as to the success of the Company's permitting programs; any expectation that the Company's proposed acquisition of Base Resources and the Toliara project will be completed or if completed, completed on the terms and time proposed; any expectation that the Company will be able to secure commitments for satisfactory offtake and/or sales agreements for REEs produced from monazite at the Mill; any expectation that Energy Fuels will be successful in obtaining suitable supply agreements, offtake agreements and/or financial support from customers and/or governments, to justify development of the planned Phase 2 and Phase 3 separation circuits, or at all; any expectation that the Company is emerging as a leading U.S. rare earth producer, in addition to advancing its position as a U.S-leading producer of uranium and vanadium; any expectation that the Bahia Project and Donald Project will be developed and proceed to production; and any expectation that the Company will be successful in acquiring Base Resources or that the Toliara Project will be developed and proceed to production. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans," "expects," "does not expect," "is expected," "is likely," "budgets," "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "anticipates," "does not anticipate," or "believes," or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might" or "will be taken," "occur," "be achieved" or "have the potential to." All statements, other than statements of historical fact, herein are considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements express or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with: commodity prices and price fluctuations; engineering, construction, processing and mining difficulties, upsets and delays; permitting and licensing requirements and delays; changes to regulatory requirements; legal challenges; the availability of feed sources for the Mill; competition from other producers; public opinion; government and political actions; the failure of the Company to provide or obtain the necessary financing required to develop the Bahia Project, the Donald Project, the Toliara project or any of the Company's other projects or initiatives; available supplies of monazite; the ability of the Mill to produce rare earth carbonate, rare earth elements or other rare earth element products to meet commercial specifications on a commercial scale at acceptable costs or at all; market factors, including future demand for uranium, rare earth elements and heavy mineral sands; the ability of the Mill to be able to separate radium or other radioisotopes for cancer treatments at reasonable costs or at all; market prices and demand for medical isotopes; and the other factors described under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is available for review on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml , on SEDAR at www.sedar.com , and on the Company's website at www.energyfuels.com . Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information in this communication, except as otherwise required by law.
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Energy Fuels and Astron Corporation Limited Execute Definitive Agreements to Jointly Develop the Donald Rare Earth and Mineral Sands Project in Australia; Uranium Production from the Company's U.S. mines and Alternate Feed Materials Continues to Ramp up as Planned
- The Donald Project is an advanced-stage project with the potential to supply approximately 7,000 – 14,000 tonnes of monazite sand in a rare earth element (" REE ") concentrate (" REEC ") per year to Energy Fuels' White Mesa Mill (the " Mill "), located in Utah, U.S.A. , for processing into separated REE oxides, as early as 2026.
- Under the joint venture, Energy Fuels has the right to invest AUD$183 million (approximately $122 million ) and issue $17.5 million in Energy Fuels shares to earn up to a 49% interest in the project.
- Of these amounts, Energy Fuels expects to issue $3.5 million in Energy Fuels shares in 2024 and to invest approximately $10.6 million in 2024 from its existing working capital (approximately $225 million at March 31, 2024 ) , prior to making a final investment decision to proceed with the development of the first phase of the project. A positive final investment decision would require the approval of both Energy Fuels and Astron and would generally require commitments for satisfactory offtake and/or sales agreements for the REE oxides expected to be produced from REEC at the Mill, as well as commitments for non-recourse and/or government-backed debt financing for the project.
- The REEC production of approximately 7,000 to 8,000 tonnes per year from the first phase of the Donald Project would be processed at the Mill's recently constructed REE oxide separation circuit, which is expected to be fully commissioned by the end of Q2 2024 and has the capacity to process up to 10,000 tonnes of monazite sand per year into up to 1,000 tonnes of NdPr oxide per year, along with a heavy mixed REE carbonate, without the need for any further capital expenditures at the Mill.
- During 2024 and 2025, the Company also plans to continue to design, permit, and construct an expansion of REE oxide production capacity at the Mill to 40,000 – 60,000 tonnes of monazite per year, which is expected to be completed in 2027, and would have the capacity to process the second phase of monazite production from the Donald Project of 13,000 to 14,000 tonnes of REEC per year, which could be available as early as 2029/2030, as well as planned monazite production from the Company's Bahia Project in Brazil and the Company's planned acquisition of the Toliara Project in Madagascar .
- The Company's REE production initiatives will not diminish in any way the Company's U.S. leading uranium production capabilities, which are proceeding as planned. The Company expects to produce approximately 150,000 to 500,000 pounds of uranium oxide (" U 3 O 8 " ) in 2024 from its U.S. mines and alternate feed materials ramping up to mining at a run-rate of approximately 1.1 million to 1.4 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year later this year from three of its existing mines, with plans to increase mining to the rate of approximately 2 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year by 2025 and up to 5 million pounds per year in coming years if market conditions continue to be positive, as expected.
Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR) ( "Energy Fuels" or the "Company" ), a leading U.S. producer of uranium, REEs, and vanadium, is pleased to announce that it has executed binding agreements with Astron Corporation Limited (" Astron ") creating a joint venture (the " Venture ") to develop and operate the Donald Rare Earth and Mineral Sands Project, located in the Wimmera Region of the State of Victoria, Australia (the " Donald Project "). All references to dollars or $ in this news release are references to US$ unless otherwise indicated.
The Donald Project is a world-class, world scale, REE and heavy mineral sand (" HMS ") deposit that has the potential to provide Energy Fuels with a near-term, low-cost, and large-scale source of monazite sand in an REE concentrate (" REEC ") that would be transported to the Company's Mill in Utah, USA for processing into REE oxides and other advanced REE materials to fuel the clean energy transition and meet critical U.S. national security needs.
With most licenses and permits in place (or at an advanced stage of completion), the Donald Project is expected to provide Energy Fuels with approximately 7,000 to 8,000 metric tons (" tonnes ") of REEC per year (" Donald – Phase 1 "), commencing as early as 2026. 8,000 tonnes of REEC from the Donald Project would contain approximately 4,700 tonnes of total REE oxides (" TREO "), including roughly 990 tonnes of neodymium-praseodymium (" NdPr ") oxide, 84 tonnes of dysprosium (" Dy ") oxide, and 14 tonnes of terbium oxide(" Tb ").
Following the construction and commissioning of Donald – Phase 1, Energy Fuels and Astron will evaluate increasing production from the Donald Project to 13,000 to 14,000 tonnes of REEC per year (" Donald – Phase 2 "), all of which would be delivered to the Mill for processing into REE oxides by Energy Fuels. 14,000 tonnes of REEC from the Donald Project would contain up to 8,200 tonnes of TREO per year, including 1,700 tonnes of NdPr oxide, 140 tonnes of Dy oxide and 25 tonnes of Tb oxide, providing a rich source of critical rare earth elements necessary to meet the demand for electric vehicles, clean energy and national security technologies.
NdPr, Dy, and Tb are known as the "magnet rare earths," as they are key ingredients in powerful permanent REE magnets used in the most efficient electric vehicles (" EVs "), hybrids, wind generators, and other defense-related and advanced technologies. Monazite concentrates typically have superior grades and distributions of the "magnet" REEs compared to other REE-bearing minerals.
For context, REEs provide significantly greater power and range for EVs and hybrid vehicles, with the typical REE-powered vehicle using about one kilogram (" kg ") of NdPr oxide, along with roughly 50 grams of Dy and/or Tb oxide. Therefore, the Donald Project alone could supply enough of each of these critical elements for up to 1.7 million EVs per year during Donald – Phase 2.
Construction and development of the Donald Project could begin as soon as 2025, subject to a unanimous final investment decision (" FID ") of both Energy Fuels and Astron. A positive FID would generally require Energy Fuels to have secured commitments for satisfactory offtake and/or sales agreements for the REE oxides expected to be produced from REEC at the Mill, Astron having secured commitments for satisfactory offtake and/or sales agreements for ilmenite and zircon expected to be produced from heavy mineral sand concentrates (" HMC ") from the project, and the Venture having secured commitments for non-recourse and/or government-backed debt financing for the project. Energy Fuels expects to spend approximately $10.6 million to advance the Donald Project in 2024, which is expected to be funded from the Company's working capital (approximately $225 million as of March 31, 2024 ).
THE DONALD PROJECT
The Donald Project is a world-class, advanced-stage, large-scale critical mineral deposit underpinned by the Ilmenite, zircon and monazite-rich Donald deposit in the Wimmera region of Victoria, Australia .
On June 27, 2023 , Astron released the outcomes of its Phase 2 Pre-Feasibility study (the " 2023 PFS "), which expands upon its April 26, 2023 Definitive Feasibility Study (the " 2023 DFS ") (see Note 1) for the Donald Project. This combined, updated study estimates Donald – Phase 1 and 2 production of 200,000 – 500,000 tonnes per year HMC and 7,000 – 14,000 tonnes per year of REEC, and forecasts total funding expenditures of AUD$392 million to achieve first production. An additional AUD$431 million in capital would be required in 2029 or 2030 for the construction of Donald – Phase 2. According to the 2023 PFS, the Donald deposit's estimated ore reserves of 825 million tonnes at 4.5% heavy mineral, are sufficient to support an initial 58-year mine life at Donald – Phase 2 production rates of approximately 13,000 to 14,000 tonnes of REEC per year (See Note 2). Astron and the Company intend to update the 2023 DFS prior to the Donald – Phase 1 FID, to take into account the most current information and to conform the report to the standards of NI 43-101 and S-K 1300, as well as update the 2023 PFS to a DFS standard post- Donald – Phase 1 production.
The Donald Project is expected to provide a long-term and large-scale supply of REEC to the Mill for processing into REE oxides and other advanced REE materials. As the REEC will be a byproduct of the Donald Project's ilmenite and zircon production, the total cost of production of REE oxides at the Mill is expected to be low-cost and globally competitive.
THE DONALD PROJECT JOINT VENTURE
Under the Venture, Energy Fuels has the right to invest AUD$183 million (approximately $122 million at current exchange rates) to earn up to a 49% interest in the Venture. Of this amount, Energy Fuels expects to invest approximately $10.6 million in 2024 from its existing working capital (approximately $225 million as of March 31, 2024 ), to be used by the Venture to update and expand the 2023 DFS and to otherwise prepare the Venture to make a FID to proceed with the development of Donald – Phase 1. In addition, Energy Fuels will issue to Astron Energy Fuels common shares having a total value of $17.5 million , of which $3.5 million in shares will be issued to Astron or its subsidiaries on the date that all conditions precedent to formation of the Venture are satisfied (the " Commencement Date "), which is expected to be in Q3 or Q4 2024, and the remaining $14.0 million in Energy Fuels shares will be issued to Astron or its subsidiaries on a positive FID.
If a positive FID is made by the Venturers within three years from the Commencement Date, then Energy Fuels will proceed to expend the remaining balance of its AUD$183 million cash expenditure required to earn into a 49% interest in the Venture plus issue the remaining $14.0 million in Energy Fuels common shares to Astron or its subsidiaries at the time of the positive FID. If a positive FID is not made unanimously within three years after the Commencement Date, but Astron has voted in favor of the FID then Astron would have the right to buy out Energy Fuels for the fair market value of Energy Fuels' interest in the Venture as at that date. If Astron does not exercise this option, or if there is otherwise no unanimous positive FID within three years after the Commencement Date, Energy Fuels will remain a minority member of the Venture (receiving a percentage interest based on the amount funded by Energy Fuels to that date) and all future funding will be made by the Joint Venturers pro-rata in accordance with their percentage interests in the Venture.
If a positive FID is made, Energy Fuels' investment of AUD$183 million is expected to satisfy most of the equity capital requirements for the construction of Donald – Phase 1. Any additional equity required post-project financing will be shared by the Joint Venturers on a pro-rata basis.
Astron is the Manager and Operator of the Venture, with specified major decisions subject to approval of both parties. After Energy Fuels has completed its investment of AUD$183 million, further Venture expenditures for the development of Donald – Phase 1 and the development of Donald – Phase 2, would be funded by Energy Fuels and Astron on a pro-rata basis.
Under the Venture, Energy Fuels has entered into an offtake agreement for 100% of the Donald Project's future Phase 1 and Phase 2 REEC production based on market prices of the contained REE oxides, subject to a floor price below which Energy Fuels would not be obligated to purchase REEC from the Venture. The Venture will sell its HMC product to global customers, subject to Astron having the right, but not the obligation, to enter into an offtake agreement with the Venture for up to 100% of the HMC product at market prices. Following payment of all joint venture expenses, all profits from the Venture will be distributed to Energy Fuels and Astron, pro-rata according to their respective ownership percentages. The REEC offtake agreement may be terminated in certain circumstances by the Venture including if Energy Fuels remains a minority member where Astron does not exercise the option to buy out Energy Fuels or if there is otherwise no unanimous positive FID within three years after the Commencement Date, both as described above.
As soon as practicable after commencing Donald – Phase 1 commercial production, the Venture would expect to evaluate constructing Donald – Phase 2 which would be expected to double ore production to 15 million tonnes per year to produce approximately 400,000 to 500,000 tonnes per year of HMC and approximately 13,000 to 14,000 tonnes per year of REEC, providing a consistent and significant feed for decades to come. Capital expenditures for Donald – Phase 2 would be made pro-rata by the Joint Venturers in accordance with their percentage interests in the Venture. The FID for Donald – Phase 2 would be made by the agreement of both Joint Venturers.
The Venture agreements also grant Energy Fuels a first right of refusal over participation in the development of Astron's Jackson Deposit, which is contained in the tenement RL2003 and adjoins the Donald Deposit to the south-west, should Astron plan to pursue such development with a third party.
REE SEPARATION AT THE WHITE MESA MILL
Energy Fuels is rapidly creating a significant new REE supply chain of world significance that can reduce America's reliance on REE's from China . The Company is actively securing long-term and large-scale sources of monazite sands to provide the raw materials needed to produce advanced REE materials at the Mill through offtake (Chemours), joint venture (the Donald Project in Australia ), and direct ownership (the Bahia Mineral Sand Project in Brazil and the previously announced proposed acquisition of Base Resources and the Toliara Mineral Sand Project in Madagascar ). Through these assets, Energy Fuels is building a world material REE oxide supply chain that the Company believes will be attractive to automotive, clean energy, and government customers.
Further, Energy Fuels has demonstrated its ability to process monazite at its U.S. White Mesa Mill, providing mixed REE carbonate to the market since 2022, and is currently commissioning an REE separation facility at the Mill which will allow for commercial scale REE separation in the United States .
Energy Fuels completed construction of its Phase 1 REE Separation Circuit at the Mill in Q1-2024 for a total cost of approximately $16 million , which has a current installed capacity to process up to 10,000 tonnes of REEC per year and produce up to 1,000 tonnes of NdPr oxide per year along with a samarium plus (" Sm+ ") heavy mixed REE carbonate containing Dy and Tb. Final commissioning is expected by June 30, 2024 , at which time the Phase 1 – REE Separation Circuit is expected to be fully operational and available to process the Donald – Phase 1 REEC production, which is expected to commence in 2026 and total 7,000 to 8,000 tonnes of REEC per year. Energy Fuels does not need to finance or construct further expansions of its Phase 1 – REE Separation Circuit to accommodate REEC from Donald – Phase 1.
The Company is also in the process of designing its Phase 2 REE Separation and Phase 3 REE Separation Circuits at the Mill. The Phase 2 REE Separation Circuit, which is currently expected to be completed in 2027, subject to receipt of any required regulatory approvals and the Company securing sufficient supplies of monazite sands, will consist of expanding NdPr oxide capacity to process 40,000 to 60,000 tonnes of monazite sands per year and produce approximately 4,000 to 6,000 tonnes of NdPr oxide per year. The Company also plans to construct a dedicated "crack-and-leach" circuit in conjunction with its Phase 2 Separation Circuit, in order to allow the Mill to simultaneously process conventional uranium ore and monazite sands independently, thereby allowing for more efficient utilization of Mill capacity. The Phase 3 REE Separation Circuit, which is currently expected to be completed in 2028, subject to receipt of any required regulatory approvals, will consist of installing the capacity to produce "heavy" REE oxides, including Dy, Tb, and potentially other oxides.
The Phase 2 REE Separation Circuit is expected to be completed in time to process the expected Donald – Phase 2 production of approximately 13,000 to 14,000 tonnes of REEC per year, which could be available by as early as 2029/2030 depending on market conditions, final design and permitting. The Phase 2 REE Separation Circuit would also accommodate monazite production from the Company's Bahia Project in Brazil , which is currently in the exploration and permitting phase and which could be producing 3,000 – 10,000 tonnes of monazite per year as early as 2026; the Company's planned acquisition of Base Resources Limited and its Toliara heavy mineral sands project, if that acquisition is successful, which could add an average of approximately 22,000 tonnes of monazite per year, subject to successful negotiation of an investment agreement with the Madagascar government, the lifting of the current suspension relating to the Toliara project, the receipt of additional permits for the recovery of Monazite at the Toliara project, and other factors.
The Sm+ mixed heavy REE carbonate will either be sold in the international market as a mixed Sm+ REE carbonate or stockpiled at the Mill for processing into Dy and Tb oxides and potentially other heavy REE oxides once the Phase 3 REE Separation Circuit is fully commissioned.
The Company also continues to evaluate opportunities to enter the REE metal, alloy, and magnet-making space, in order to fully-integrate the entire REE magnet supply chain.
ENERGY FUELS' CONTINUED URANIUM PRODUCTION RAMP-UP:
Once the Phase 1 REE Separation Circuit commissioning is complete, which is expected by the end of Q2, 2024, the Company expects to begin processing stockpiled uranium ore from its three currently operating U.S. mines and alternate feed materials for the remainder of 2024 and thereafter, from which the Company expects to produce approximately 150,000 to 500,000 pounds of U 3 O 8 in 2024, ramping up to mining at a run rate of approximately 1.1 million to 1.4 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year later this year from those three mines. The Company expects to potentially increase its uranium production to a mining run rate of approximately 2 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year by bringing two additional mines into operation as early as 2025, and to a mining run rate of up to approximately 5 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year over the coming years by bringing our additional longer-term projects into operation, if uranium market conditions continue to be strong, as expected.
The Company's REE initiatives will not diminish in any way the Company's U.S. leading uranium production capabilities.
MARK S. CHALMERS , PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ENERGY FUELS STATED:
"Energy Fuels is truly excited to embark on this joint venture with Astron on the development and operation of the Donald Project in Australia . We have enjoyed working with the Astron team, and we look forward to making this world-class rare earth and critical mineral deposit a reality in Australia , which is one of the closest allies of the U.S.
"I'll add that the sequencing of our uranium, rare earth and mineral sand production ramp-ups is proceeding extremely well in relation to commodity markets, while maximizing operating capacity and workforce allocation at our White Mesa Mill. Uranium markets are currently gaining strength, and we have long-term supply contracts to fulfill, so 2024 is a good year to ramp-up our low-cost uranium production. At the same time, rare earth markets are currently soft. Therefore, 2024 is a good year to install and commission REE processing capacity, design and plan additional REE processing capacity, and secure mineral positions in this critical industry, such as through our Donald Project joint venture with Astron and proposed acquisition of Base Resources. Assuming heavy mineral sand markets remain strong, and we are able to secure satisfactory offtake agreements and financing, we look forward to beginning development of the Donald Project as soon as 2025. We believe the Donald Project will be a 'flagship' mining project for Australia and the State of Victoria , producing many of the raw materials needed for the energy transition."
Note 1
The financial information relating to the Donald deposit's mineral sands is based on the 2023 PFS and 2023 DFS. These studies constituted a "Pre-Feasibility Study" and a "Feasibility Study," respectively, for the purposes of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves, 2012 Edition (" JORC ") and the ore reserves underpinning these studies were estimated in accordance with JORC. The results from these studies and the estimated ore reserves may not be comparable to (as the case may be) data or estimates under either National Instrument 43-101 (" NI 43-101 ") or Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K (" S-K 1300 ")– see disclosure below under "Qualified Person".
NOTE 2
The JORC estimate of ore reserves is presented for informational purposes only. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify these estimates as current NI 43-101 or S-K 1300 estimates of mineral resources, mineral reserves, or exploration results. Energy Fuels is not treating these estimates as a current estimate of mineral resources, mineral reserves, or exploration results – see note below under "Qualified Person".
QUALIFIED PERSON
The technical information in this press release has been prepared in accordance with both U.S. and Canadian requirements set out in S-K 1300 and NI 43-101 and reviewed on behalf of the Company by Dan Kapostasy , VP, Technical Services of the Company, a Qualified Person under both S-K 1300 and NI 43-101 regulations. The JORC compliant Mineral Reserves contained herein were disclosed by Astron on 27 June 2023 . The Company has not completed the necessary due diligence on the Mineral Reserves to disclose them as current Mineral Reserves. Therefore, the Company is treating the contained tables as historical in nature as a Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify the Mineral Reserves as current under S-K 1300 or NI 43-101. These historical Mineral Reserves are relevant to this disclosure, as they provide information on the potential size and scale of MIN5532 and RL2002. The method used to estimate the in-situ resources was ordinary kriging utilizing octant and ellipsoid search parameters. The mineralized zone was domained into three zones: low grade, medium grade (>3% & 5%) heavy mineral. The block model used a 100 m x 200 m x 1 m block, which is approximately half the drillhole spacing in the well drilled areas. The model was visually verified against drillholes, SWATH plots were used to check average grade trends, and the current estimate is similar to previous estimates. To convert the Mineral Resources to Mineral Reserves, modifying factors including mining methods (dry mining), metallurgical testwork (including processing size assumptions, >38 µm size fraction) producing both a heavy mineral concentrate (Ti and Zr minerals) and a rare earth mineral concentrate (monazite + xenotime), capital cost, operating costs, and environmental factors. Additional details regarding the historical Mineral Reserves are available in the Astron press release dated 27 June, 2023 :
https://www.astronlimited.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/20230627-Phase-2-Ore-Reserve-Update.pdf
ABOUT ENERGY FUELS
Energy Fuels is a leading US-based uranium and critical minerals company. The Company, as a leading producer of uranium in the United States , mines uranium and produces natural uranium concentrates that are sold to major nuclear utilities for the production of carbon-free nuclear energy. Energy Fuels recently began production of advanced REE materials, including mixed REE carbonate, and plans to produce commercial quantities of separated REE oxides commencing in 2024. Energy Fuels also produces vanadium from certain of its projects, as market conditions warrant, and is evaluating the recovery of radionuclides needed for emerging cancer treatments. Its corporate offices are in Lakewood, Colorado , near Denver , and substantially all its assets and employees are in the United States . Energy Fuels holds two of America's key uranium production centers: the White Mesa Mill in Utah and the Nichols Ranch in-situ recovery (" ISR ") Project in Wyoming . The White Mesa Mill is the only conventional uranium mill operating in the US today, has a licensed capacity of over 8 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year, and has the ability to produce vanadium when market conditions warrant, as well as REE products, from various uranium-bearing ores. The Nichols Ranch ISR Project is on standby and has a licensed capacity of 2 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year. The Company recently acquired the Bahia Project in Brazil , which is believed to have significant quantities of titanium (ilmenite and rutile), zirconium (zircon) and REE (monazite) minerals. In addition to the above production facilities, Energy Fuels also has one of the largest NI 43-101 compliant uranium resource portfolios in the US and several uranium and uranium/vanadium mining projects in production, on standby and in various stages of permitting and development. The primary trading market for Energy Fuels' common shares is the NYSE American under the trading symbol "UUUU," and the Company's common shares are also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "EFR." Energy Fuels' website is www.energyfuels.com .
ABOUT ASTRON
Astron Corporation Limited (ASX: ATR) is an Australian-based company listed on the ASX. With over 35 years of operating history, Astron has been involved in mineral sands processing, downstream product development, as well as the marketing and sales of zirconium and titanium related products. Astron's prime focus is on the development of its large, long-life Donald Rare Earths and Mineral Sands Project in regional Victoria, Australia . Astron's website is www.astronlimited.com.au .
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains certain "Forward Looking Information" and "Forward Looking Statements" within the meaning of applicable United States and Canadian securities legislation, which may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: any expectation that the Company will maintain its position as a leading U.S.-based uranium and critical minerals company or as the leading producer of uranium in the U.S.; any expectation as to production levels or timing or duration of production from the Donald Project or any of the Company's other mines or projects; any expectations as to costs of production at the Donald Project or any of the Company's mines or other projects; any expectation that the Company will be successful in creating a new REE supply chain that can reduce America's reliance on China ; any expectation that the Company will be successful in entering the REE metal, alloy, and magnet-making space, in order to fully-integrate the entire REE magnet supply chain; any expectation that the addition of REE production will not diminish in any way the Company's U.S. leading uranium production capabilities; any expectation that the Donald Project is a world-class, world scale, REE and HMS deposit; any expectation that any ore reserves estimated to date will accurately reflect actual reserves or resources; any expectation that Astron and the Company will update the 2023 DFS prior to the Phase 1 FID, to take into account the most current information and to conform the report to the standards of NI 43-101 and S-K 1300, or at all; any expectation that the Company will update the 2023 PFS to a DFS standard post- Donald – Phase 1 production, or at all; any expectation that the Company's AUD$183 million investment in the Venture will satisfy most of the equity capital requirements for the construction of Donald – Phase 1; any expectation that the Company will be successful in securing any additional low-cost monazite concentrates globally, or at all; any expectation that the Company will be successful in advancing its REE initiatives or that it will be successful in installing REE production capacity at the Mill and the timing of installation of any such production capacity; any expectation as to the success of the Company's permitting programs; any expectation that the Company's proposed acquisition of Base Resources and the Toliara project will be completed or if completed, completed on the terms and time proposed; any expectation that the Company will be able to secure commitments for satisfactory offtake and/or sales agreements for REE oxides produced from monazite at the Mill, that Astron will be able to secure commitments for satisfactory offtake and/or sales agreements for ilmenite and zircon produced from HMC from the project, or that any such commitments obtained would support non-recourse and/or government-backed debt financing for the Donald Project; any expectation that Energy Fuels will be successful in obtaining any grants, low-interest debt, non- or limited-recourse debt, loan guarantees, or other support vehicles from any government agencies or offices, or at all; any expectation that a positive Donald – Phase 1 FID or Donald Phase 2 FID will be made; any expectation that an investment agreement relating to the Toliara project will be negotiated with the Madagascar government on suitable terms or at all; any expectation that the current suspension relating to the Toliara project will be lifted by the Madagascar government in the near future or at all; and any expectation that the additional permits for the recovery of Monazite at the Donald Project or Toliara project will be acquired on a timely basis or at all . Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans," "expects," "does not expect," "is expected," "is likely," "budgets," "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "anticipates," "does not anticipate," or "believes," or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might" or "will be taken," "occur," "be achieved" or "have the potential to." All statements, other than statements of historical fact, herein are considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements express or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with: commodity prices and price fluctuations; engineering, construction, processing and mining difficulties, upsets and delays; permitting and licensing requirements and delays; changes to regulatory requirements; legal challenges; the availability of feed sources for the Mill; competition from other producers; public opinion; government and political actions; the failure of the Government of Madagascar to agree on fiscal terms or provide the approvals necessary to achieve sufficient fiscal and legal stability on acceptable terms and conditions or at all; the failure of the current suspension affecting the Toliara project to be lifted by the Madagascar government on a timely basis or at all; the failure of the Company to obtain the required permits for the recovery of Monazite from the Toliara project or Donald Project; the failure of the Company to provide or obtain the necessary financing required to develop the Donald Project, the Toliara project or any of the Company's other projects or initiatives; available supplies of monazite; the ability of the Mill to produce rare earth carbonate, rare earth element oxides or other rare earth element products to meet commercial specifications on a commercial scale at acceptable costs or at all; market factors, including future demand for uranium, rare earth elements and HMC; the ability of the Mill to be able to separate radium or other radioisotopes at reasonable costs or at all; market prices and demand for medical isotopes; and the other factors described under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is available for review on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml , on SEDAR at www.sedar.com , and on the Company's website at www.energyfuels.com . Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information in this communication, except as otherwise required by law.
Cautionary Note for U.S. Investors Concerning Mineral Resources and Reserves: Certain technical disclosure contained in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the JORC Code . The JORC Code differs from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (" SEC "), and resource information contained in this news release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by domestic United States companies subject to the SEC's reporting and disclosure requirements.
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SOURCE Energy Fuels Inc.
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Clean Energy and Precious Metals Hybrid Virtual Investor Conference: Presentations Now Available for Online Viewing
Virtual Investor Conferences, the leading proprietary investor conference series, today announced the presentations from the Clean Energy and Precious Metals Hybrid Virtual Investor Conference held May 23 rd are now available for online viewing.
REGISTER NOW AT : https://bit.ly/4bNF5Zi
The company presentations will be available 24/7 for 90 days. Investors, advisors, and analysts may download investor materials from the company's resource section.
May 23 rd
| Presentation | Ticker(s) |
| Viva Gold Corp. | OTCQB: VAUCF | TSXV: VAU |
| Relevant Gold Corp. | OTCQB: RGCCF | TSXV: RGC |
| StrikePoint Gold, Inc. | OTCQB: STKXF | TSXV: SKP |
| Aftermath Silver Ltd. | OTCQX: AAGFF | TSXV: AAG |
| Reyna Silver Corp. | OTCQX: RSNVF | TSXV: RSLV |
| Fathom Nickel Inc. | OTCQB: FNICF | CSE: FNI |
| Intrepid Metals Corp. | OTCQB: IMTCF | TSXV: INTR |
Keynote Presentation: Critical Minerals Institute - "What are the critical Critical Metals?" Jack Lifton, Co-Chairman | |
| Energy Fuels Inc. | NYSE American: UUUU | TSX: EFR |
| Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. | OTCQX: APAAF | CSE: API |
| Elevate Uranium Ltd. | OTCQX: ELVUF | ASX: EL8 |
| Barksdale Resources Corp. | OTCQX: BRKCF | TSXV: BRO |
To facilitate investor relations scheduling and to view a complete calendar of Virtual Investor Conferences, please visit www.virtualinvestorconferences.com .
About Virtual Investor Conferences ®
Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.
Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.
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Stunning High Grade Uranium Soil Results at Portland Creek
Highlights
Infini’s CEO, Charles Armstrong said: “These first pass soils are nothing short of outstanding and represent some of the highest uranium soil grades returned globally. To see such consistent and high- grade mineralisation within soil sampling across ~235m x 100m, which sits within a ~3.2km radiometric corridor is remarkable and suggests we may be very close to a potential discovery here at Portland Creek. The high-grade soils are proximal to highly anomalous biogeochemical and boulder rock samples, further increasing our confidence in this remarkable uranium asset. We might be onto something of significant scale here. Right now, we await the follow-up assay results from these ‘ore grade’ soil samples to determine how high they really are, in addition to planning fieldwork to sample the unexplored radon gas anomalies at the property.”
Figure 1 The Talus Uranium Prospect depicting the location of the incredibly high-grade soil samples. Note: surface geochemistry is highly coincidental with the large existing anomalous radiometric corridor.
Soil Sampling Results
A total of 75 soils were taken in east-west traverse lines through known radiometric anomalism except for one area surrounding a historical radon gas anomaly. This area was identified as anomalous during spectrometer line traverses and infill samples on tight ~25m spacings where terrain allowed. Two uranium soil anomalies have been identified running in north-south orientations at the Talus prospect. High grade anomaly one (Figure 2 and Appendix 1 Table 1) is ~235m x 100m with a peak value of >11,792 ppm U3O8 (above LOD) and anomaly two is ~165m long with a peak value of 284 ppm U3O8. These findings are even more significant given the average background reading in soils is only ~8 ppm U3O8 (peak anomaly - 1474 times background).
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This article includes content from Infini Resources Limited, 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.
Boss Energy: Multi-mine Uranium Producer in Australia and the US
Australian uranium producer Boss Energy (ASX:BOE) has two projects – the 100 percent-owned Honeymoon uranium project in South Australia and the 30 percent-owned Alta Mesa project in the US.
The macro-environment and steps taken by the US government remain favorable for uranium producers such as Boss Energy. The US Congress recently enacted legislation prohibiting the importation of Russian uranium products known as the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act (HR 1042), valid until 2040.
The Honeymoon uranium project in South Australia spans approximately 80 kms northwest of Broken Hill. The project is home to the historical Honeymoon uranium mine, Australia's second operating in-situ recovery uranium mine. It began production in 2011 under the previous ownership of Uranium One. Operations at Honeymoon were halted in November 2013 due to declining uranium prices. Subsequently, Boss Energy acquired the project in 2015. The company has since restarted the mine, with the first drum of uranium produced in April 2024.
Company Highlights
- Boss Energy is an Australia-based uranium producer focused on its two key projects – the 100 percent owned Honeymoon Uranium Project in South Australia and the 30 percent owned Alta Mesa Project in the US.
- In June 2024 Boss became a multi-mine uranium producer through the Honeymoon and Alta Mesa Projects.
- The Honeymoon uranium mine commenced production in April 2024, with the first sale of uranium expected in July 2024.
- Annual production at Honeymoon is forecast to reach 2.45 Mlbs of U3O8.
- The Alta Mesa uranium mine commenced production in June 2024, with first sale of uranium expected in October 2024.
- Annual production at Alta Mesa is forecast to reach 1.50 Mlbs of U3O8. Once steady-state operations are established, Boss’s 30 percent share of the production amounts to 500,000 lbs per year.
- Uranium prices have been the highest since 2008 at over US$80/lb. Prices are expected to remain strong due to the tightness of the uranium supply/demand balance. The company’s first production is timed with strong market fundamentals.
- The company has signed two sales agreements to supply 1.8 million pounds of U3O8 to leading power utilities in Europe and the US, spanning eight years from 2024 to 2032. The company plans to pursue additional agreements as the price of uranium increases.
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Boss Energy Limited
Overview
Boss Energy (ASX:BOE) is a listed Australian producer of uranium. The company has two projects – the 100 percent owned Honeymoon uranium project in South Australia and the 30 percent owned Alta Mesa project in the US.
The macro-environment and steps taken by the US government remain favorable for uranium producers such as Boss Energy. The United States Congress recently enacted legislation prohibiting the importation of Russian uranium products. Known as the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act (HR 1042), this legislation was passed by the House of Representatives on December 11, 2023, and later approved by the Senate on April 30, 2024. The prohibition is valid until 2040.
The legislation's sunset provision, set for 2040, aims to encourage the sustained deployment of uranium conversion and enrichment facilities and services in the United States and its allied nations over the long term. This should benefit domestic suppliers such as Boss Energy.
According to UxC estimates, annual uranium demand could surge by nearly 65 percent, exceeding 300 million pounds (Mlbs) U308 by 2030, up from the current demand level of 197 Mlbs U308. Meanwhile, the projected mine supply for 2024 is approximately 155 Mlbs U308, suggesting a deficit of nearly 40 Mlbs.
Moreover, there is an expected surge in demand for uranium due to the projected 18 percent increase in nuclear reactor capacity from 2023 to 2030. Nuclear energy will be critical in meeting the global ambition of net zero emission. Thus, ensuring a secure supply is crucial, and the Honeymoon mine is strategically positioned to provide uranium from South Australia to a market facing escalating geopolitical instability.
Spot uranium prices have jumped dramatically. They are the highest since 2008, at over US$80/lb. Due to the tightness of the uranium supply/demand balance, prices are expected to remain strong.
The company’s first drum production in April 2024 at the Honeymoon mine is timed with strong market fundamentals. Boss has entered into two binding sales agreements to sell ~1.8 Mlbs U308 to two major Western utilities in 2032. These agreements ensure a stable revenue flow for Boss, offer strong profit margins, and reinforce the trust utilities placed in the supply from the Honeymoon Uranium Mine in South Australia.
Honeymoon utilizes in-situ recovery (ISR) coupled with ion exchange for uranium extraction and processing. The process is environmentally friendly and more cost efficient compared to traditional mining.
Boss is expanding its senior management team to align with its expanding presence as a global uranium producer. Justin Laird, a highly experienced financial executive, has been appointed CFO, while Robert Gordon, a respected mine production executive, has taken on the role of general manager at Honeymoon.
As of 31 March 2024, the company had AU$100 million in cash and no debt. It also holds a strategic inventory of 1.25 Mlb of U308, which has a current spot market value of AU$169 million. Boss Energy possesses multiple producing uranium mines and is strategically positioned to capitalize on the improving fundamentals of the uranium market.
Company Highlights
- Boss Energy is an Australia-based uranium producer focused on its two key projects – the 100 percent owned Honeymoon Uranium Project in South Australia and the 30 percent owned Alta Mesa Project in the US.
- In June 2024 Boss became a multi-mine uranium producer through the Honeymoon and Alta Mesa Projects.
- The Honeymoon uranium mine commenced production in April 2024, with the first sale of uranium expected in July 2024.
- Annual production at Honeymoon is forecast to reach 2.45 Mlbs of U3O8.
- The Alta Mesa uranium mine commenced production in June 2024, with first sale of uranium expected in October 2024.
- Annual production at Alta Mesa is forecast to reach 1.50 Mlbs of U3O8. Once steady-state operations are established, Boss’s 30 percent share of the production amounts to 500,000 lbs per year.
- Uranium prices have been the highest since 2008 at over US$80/lb. Prices are expected to remain strong due to the tightness of the uranium supply/demand balance. The company’s first production is timed with strong market fundamentals.
- The company has signed two sales agreements to supply 1.8 million pounds of U3O8 to leading power utilities in Europe and the US, spanning eight years from 2024 to 2032. The company plans to pursue additional agreements as the price of uranium increases.
Key Projects
Honeymoon Uranium Project
The 100 percent owned Honeymoon uranium project is situated in South Australia, approximately 80 kms northwest of the town of Broken Hill. The project is home to the historical Honeymoon uranium mine, Australia's second operating in-situ recovery uranium mine. It began production in 2011 under the previous ownership of Uranium One. Operations at Honeymoon were halted in November 2013 due to declining uranium prices. Subsequently, Boss Energy acquired the project in 2015. The company has since restarted the mine, with the first drum of uranium produced in April 2024.
Boss Energy’s enhanced feasibility study (EFS), released in June 2021, demonstrates the financial robustness of the Honeymoon mine. It indicates an 11-year mine life, a production rate of 2.45 Mlb/annum, and a pre-tax NPV of 8 percent of US$309 million at the U3O8 price of US$60/lb. The existing EFS is based on just 50 percent of the existing JORC resource, i.e. only 36 Mlbs of the total JORC Resource of 71.6 Mlbs.
Using the remaining identified JORC resource, there is considerable potential to prolong the mine's lifespan and enhance the production nameplate capacity of 2.45 Mlb per annum. Boss Energy is currently implementing strategies to boost both the production rate and the lifespan of operations at Honeymoon. This includes targeting satellite deposits such as Gould’s Dam (25 Mlb of U3O8) and Jason (11 Mlb of U3O8).
These target deposits are expected to increase the forecasted production at Honeymoon from 2.45 Mlbs per annum of U308 to over 3 Mlbs per annum.
Alta Mesa Project
The 30 percent owned Alta Mesa project is a high-grade uranium ISR project in South Texas, a prolific US district for sandstone-hosted ISR production, having historically produced ~80 Mlbs. South Texas is the most progressive permitting production jurisdiction in the United States, and the typical AISC for similar ISR projects in the region is US$30-35/lb.
Boss Energy purchased its 30 percent stake in the Alta Mesa project from enCore Energy for US$60 million in cash. enCore Energy is a reputable US uranium developer and operator with a strong track record. They successfully initiated operations at the Rosita ISR re-start project in the United States in just 20 months. Prior to this, the enCore Energy team managed the Alta Mesa project before undergoing care and maintenance.
The Alta Mesa project boasts an NI 43-101 compliant resource with 3.41 Mlbs at 0.109 percent U3O8 in the measured and indicated category, and 16.97 Mlbs at 0.120 percent U3O8 classified as inferred. The project has an annual production capacity of 1.5 Mlbs U3O8, with Boss Energy’s share at 500,000 lbs per annum. The project commissioning is on track, with the first production expected in May 2024.
Management Team
Duncan Craib – Executive Director and CEO
Duncan Craib has been the chief executive officer of Boss Energy since January 2017. He has significant experience in mining, especially in the uranium industry. He has worked in senior leadership roles across geographies, including Australia, the United Kingdom, Namibia and China. Before joining Boss Energy, Craib was the finance director at Swakop Uranium. He played a significant role in developing and constructing the Husab uranium mine in Namibia, a project valued at US$2.5 billion. Husab, considered world-class, was commissioned in 2016.
Justin Laird – Chief Financial Officer
Before joining Boss, Justin Laird was the manager of business projects at Wesfarmers (ASX:WES). During his nine-year tenure, he held various senior roles in business development, led transaction and finance teams, expanded new ventures, and fulfilled other commercial and strategic responsibilities. He is a chartered accountant.
Wyatt Buck – Non-executive Chairman
Wyatt Buck has significant uranium mining experience, having worked with Cameco Corporation for nearly 15 years. He was the general manager of the McArthur River uranium mine and Key Lake Mill, the largest uranium mining operation in the world. He has held key operational positions at Paladin Energy (ASX:PDN), serving as both general manager and managing director of the Langer Heinrich uranium project in Namibia. He held these roles from the initiation of construction in February 2006 until achieving design-level production. From 2011 onward, Buck has served as operations director at First Quantum Minerals (TSE:FM), where he has supervised mining operations across various locations, including Finland, Spain, Turkey, Australia and Mauritania.
Jan Honeyman – Non-executive Director
Jan Honeyman is an experienced human resources professional, most recently with global miner First Quantum Minerals, where she was the director of HR for 16 years. Prior to this, she worked in HR and talent management with various companies, including Halliburton.
Bryn James – Non-executive Director
Bryn James is a member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, with over two decades of involvement in the Australian uranium sector. He possesses extensive experience across all stages of the mining process, with a specific focus on uranium in-situ recovery (ISR), as well as mine development and production. Previously, he worked with ISR uranium producer Heathgate Resources. He also served as the chief operating officer of Canada-based uranium developer Laramide Resources (ASX/TSX:LAM,OTC:LMRXF).
Robert Gordon – General Manager
Robert Gordon brings vast experience in operating processing plants and managing projects within the global resources sector. Previously, he served as the process plant operations manager at Newcrest Mining. His expertise spans various aspects of metallurgy, including hydrometallurgy, which aligns with the processes utilized by Boss at Honeymoon.
Jonathan Owen – Project Manager
Jonathan Owen brings over 25 years of experience in all aspects of the mining cycle, from feasibility to handover. With a background in project management and development, he boasts considerable experience, including a decade spent at First Quantum Minerals as a project manager overseeing the African Sentinel copper/nickel development. More recently, he played a pivotal role in the handover of the Cobre Panama copper/gold processing plant.
Jason Cherry – Geology Manager
Jason Cherry is a seasoned uranium exploration geologist with 17 years of experience and has expertise in diverse mining styles of uranium mineralization. He spent several years at Honeymoon, where he played a significant role in the discovery of new uranium resources, including the satellite deposits of Jasons and Goulds Dam.
GTI Energy
Overview
Wyoming has the largest uranium reserves of all the US states and is the home of in-situ recovery (ISR) uranium mining, with experimental ISR mining during the early 1960s and commercial ISR mining starting in 1974. The state is an energy powerhouse in the US, second only to Texas in energy production and accounting for more than 80 percent of the country’s uranium production. It has a production history that dates back to the late 1940s. With a soaring uranium price that passed $90 by the end of 2023, many analysts believe the price will remain on the higher end for years to come.
GTI Energy (ASX:GTR,OTCQB:GTRIF) is a mineral exploration company focused on developing a portfolio of attractive uranium projects in the United States. The company now boasts approximately 42,000 acres in the prolific Great Divide and Powder River Basins, which are low-cost ISR uranium-producing districts within 100 miles of each other.
In 2022, the company completed an additional 103 mud rotary exploration drill holes to increase the total trend length for GTI’s projects in the Great Divide Basin to 7.5 miles.
The company has also commenced work at its Green Mountain ISR uranium project next to Rio Tinto’s (ASX:RIO) uranium deposits. GTI has historical drill data confirming the presence of uranium mineralised roll fronts on the properties.
The company is led by a highly experienced management and exploration team with an extensive track record in the mineral exploration industry. GTI’s operational team has proven development and engineering expertise with a history of success in ISR uranium deposit discovery in Wyoming.
GTI’s acquisition of Branka Minerals in November 2021 gave the company control of the largest non-US or Canadian-owned uranium exploration landholding in the Great Divide Basin, with approximately 19,500 acres. The landholding included underexplored and highly prospective sandstone-hosted uranium properties which are the company’s Wyoming projects today. This holding then grew with the purchase of the 13,800-acre Green Mountain project in 2022.
The company further expanded its ISR uranium portfolio in 2023 by acquiring the Lo Herma Project in Wyoming’s prolific Powder River Basin uranium district. The newly staked 13,300 acres of claims are located within 16 kilometers of Cameco’s Smith Ranch-Highland ISR uranium production plant – the largest production site in Wyoming
GTI Energy leverages the strategic positioning of its Wyoming projects, which are located near Ur Energy’s (TSX:URE,NYSE:URG) Lost Creek ISR production plant and the now-rehabilitated historic Rio Tinto Kennecott Sweetwater Mill. The Lost Creek plant is claimed by Ur Energy to be the lowest-cost ISR uranium production plant outside of Kazakhstan.
GTI is committed to strong environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives to support the clean energy transition. In November 2021, the company adopted an internationally recognized Environmental, Social and Governance Stakeholder Capitalism Metrics framework, with 21 core metrics and disclosures.
In December 2021, GTI Energy announced it would be transitioning to carbon-neutral operations. The company has subsequently received its carbon neutral certification for its Australian head office and US field operations, through the Australian Government’s Climate Active Program.
GTI Energy is positioned for growth with the pursuit of ISR mining on its Wyoming projects, presenting an opportunity for low operating expenses and capital expenditures with low environmental impact compared to conventional mining. ISR mining supports the company’s goal of low-impact mining and carbon neutrality on its Wyoming projects.
In 2021, the company completed field exploration on its Henry Mountains project in Utah. In the same year, GTI Energy also began a 15,000-meter drill program on its Wyoming projects, concluding the program in early 2022. The drilling confirmed that the targeted ISR-amenable uranium mineralization was present at the Thor project. In 2022, the company completed an additional 103 mud rotary exploration drill holes to increase the total trend length for GTI’s projects in the Basin to 7.5 miles.
Company Highlights
- GTI Energy owns multiple promising assets in Wyoming’s prolific and in-situ recovery (ISR) uranium-producing Great Divide and Powder River Basins. Wyoming is the leading US uranium production state and is “uranium-friendly”.
- GTI’s flagship Lo Herma project comprises 13,300 acres of ground in Wyoming within circa 16 kilometers of Cameco’s $16-billion ISR uranium plant (the largest permitted ISR production facility in Wyoming) and 80 kilometers of five permitted ISR uranium production facilities, including UEC’s Christensen Ranch (due to restart in August 2024) and Peninsula Energy’s (ASX:PEN) Lance Project (due to recommence production in late 2024).
- GTI’s Great Divide Basin projects are strategically located near Ur Energy’s (TSX:URE,NYSE:URG) Lost Creek ISR production plant which has re-commenced production.
- Maiden uranium resource and updated exploration target at the Lo Herma ISR project delivered an inferred mineral resource estimate of 5.71 Mlbs uranium oxide at an average 630 ppm plus an exploration target of an additional 5.87 to 10.26 Mlbs potential at average grade of 500 to 700 ppm.
- Updated total resources across its Wyoming projects of 7.37 Mlbs plus an exploration target of an additional 11.97 to 19.79 Mlbs potential at average grade of 500 – 700 ppm.
- In early 2022, the company completed a further 103 mud rotary exploration drill holes to increase the total trend length for GTI’s projects in the Great Divide Basin to 7.5 miles.
- In late 2023, GTI completed 26 holes at Lo Herma to verify the historical data base & confirm exploration potential along trend & at depth.
- GTI acquired a 1,771 drill hole data set over Lo Herma with a replacement value of AU$15 million.
- GTI received its carbon neutral certification for its Australian head office and US field operations, through the Australian Government’s Climate Active Program.
- GTI aims to utilize ISR mining at its Wyoming projects, which offers lower environmental impact, lower opex and capex than conventional mining.
- GTI Energy has a highly experienced exploration team including the recent appointment of ISR specialist, Matt Hartmann, with a history of successful uranium discovery in Wyoming.
Key Projects
Wyoming Projects
The Wyoming projects are located in the Powder River & Great Divide Basins in Wyoming and the Henry Mountains (Colorado Plateau) Utah, United States. The Greta Divide Basin projects consist of the Thor, Logray, Loki, Odin, Teebo, Wicket and Green Mountain claims. The approximately 13,000 hectare group of projects is prospective for ISR-amenable sandstone-hosted roll-front uranium. The Wyoming projects are situated 5 to 30 kilometers from Ur-Energy’s Lost Creek ISR plant. The projects are also located near Rio Tinto’s Sweetwater/Kennecott Mill.
GTI Energy’s land holding in the Great Divide Basin was bolstered by the acquisition of the Green Mountain project comprising 5,585 hectares of contiguous ISR uranium exploration claims which abuts the Rio Tinto claims at Green Mountain. Historical drill data and geophysics confirms the presence of major uranium mineralisation at the projects.
Initial drilling at Lo Herma commenced in November 2023 and was completed in December with 26 drill holes successfully verifying the historical Lo Herma drill hole database. A drilling permit amendment is currently in progress aiming to optimise follow-up drilling, increase the total number of drill holes, and construct monitoring wells for groundwater data collection. Drilling is expected to resume by July 2024 with an enlarged program, and the mineral resource estimate and exploration targets are expected to be updated in the fourth quarter of 2024.
The company began initial exploration on Thor in 2021, and in 2022, it completed an additional 103 mud rotary exploration drill holes. The drilling of 70 holes was previously reported at the Thor prospect and an additional 33 holes combined have now been completed at the Odin, Teebo and Loki prospects. These 33 holes have discovered an additional combined 4.26 kilometers of ISR amenable uranium mineralised roll front trends increasing the total trend length for GTI’s projects in the Basin to 12.07 kilometers.
In February 2023, GTI Energy secured, by staking, approximately 3,500 hectares of unpatented mineral lode claims known as the Lo Herma project, about 16 kilometers from Cameco’s Smith Ranch-Highland ISR Uranium facility and Energy Fuels Nichols Ranch ISR plant. Lo Herma also lies within 97 kilometers of the companies leading the restart of uranium production in the USA, including Uranium Energy, Ur-Energy, Energy Fuels, Encore Energy and Peninsula Energy.
The company subsequently, secured a material historical data package for the project, which allowed GTI Energy to report a maiden uranium resource and exploration target update at the Lo Herma ISR project, including a cut-off grade of 200 parts per million (ppm) uranium oxide and a minimum grade thickness (GT) of 0.2 per mineralised horizon as 4.12 million tonnes of mineralisation at an average grade of 630 ppm uranium oxide for 5.71 million pounds (Mlbs) of uranium oxide contained metal. The inferred mineral resource estimate is 5.71 Mlbs uranium oxide at an average of 630 ppm.
The company also completed collection of aerial geophysical data at its Lo Herma, Green Mountain and Loki West ISR uranium exploration projects in Wyoming. The survey was conducted using a twin-engine aircraft loaded with a suite of sensors that provide detailed radiometric, magnetic and electromagnetic data, allowing for correlation between the three products.
The airborne geophysical survey at its Green Mountain project consequently updated its drill plan with 16 potential drill holes. The permit application process is underway for the 2024 drill program which aims to test the validity of the historical Kerr McGee drill hole maps, as well as the interpreted mineralised regions as determined from the airborne geophysical survey.
Henry Mountains Uranium Project
GTI’s uranium/vanadium projects in Utah are considered suitable for conventional mining and are located on the east flank of the Henry Mountains, covering 3,860 acres. The permits host historical production, open underground workings and have an exploration permit in place. The projects saw significant work from 2019 to 2021 including two drill programs totaling 52 drill holes and geophysical logging of an additional 76 historical drill holes. GTI subsequently elected to prioritise work at its newly acquired Wyoming ISR projects until such time as activity and investment in the region improves. The company’s projects lie within ~100 miles of Energy Fuels’ (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR) White Mesa Mill and within a few miles of Anfield Energy’s (TSX.V: AEC) Shootaring (Ticaboo) mill site. The owners of both of these mills are actively pursuing mill re-starts.
In addition, Western Uranium & Vanadium (CSE:WUC) (OTCQX:WSTRF) has announced the purchase of a mill site in Green River Utah and work to design and permit the facility for processing uranium and vanadium. The plant, which will be located ~80 miles from GTI’s projects, is intended to process feed from Western's recently restarted Sunday Mine Complex over 160 miles away. Western advised of a mine operations restart at Sunday in February 2024. Western stated its new "mineral processing plant" will recover uranium, vanadium and cobalt from ore from Western's mines and that produced by other miners. Western said, on February 13, 2024, it expects the plant to be licensed and constructed for annual production of 1 million pounds U3O8 and 6 million pounds of V2O5, with initial production in 2025.
Based on the renewed interest in exploration, mining, and processing of uranium ore in this region, GTI is currently evaluating potential paths for further exploration, resource development, or other value creating activities with its Utah projects.
Management Team
Nathan Lude - Non-executive Chairman
Nathan Lude has broad experience working in the asset and fund management, mining, and energy industries. Lude is the founding director of Advantage Management, a corporate advisory firm. Lude has previously held directorships with ASX-listed mining companies.
Currently, he is the executive director of ASX-listed Hartshead Resources (ASX:ANA). Lude has grown a large business network across Australia and Asia, establishing strong ties with Australian broking firms, institutions, and Asian investors.
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 15 years most notably with ASX listed companies Atom Energy Ltd & Stonehenge Metals Ltd & Fenix Resources Ltd (FEX).
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.
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. He also held roles with minerals industry participants in Australia and the US including various positions at Cliffs, Sons of Gwalia the WA Chamber of Minerals & Energy and WMC where he negotiated the mine closure criteria for a gold project near Sacramento, California.
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).
Matthew Foy - Company Secretary
Matthew Foy is an active member of the WA State Governance Council of the Governance Institute Australia. Foy has more than 14 years of experience in facilitating ASX-listing rule compliance. His core competencies are in the secretarial, operational, and governance disciplines for publicly listed companies. Foy has a working knowledge of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and Australia Stock Exchange reporting. He has document drafting skills that provide the basis for valuable contributions to the boards on which he serves.
Cameco Releases 2023 Sustainability Report
Cameco (TSX: CCO; NYSE: CCJ) released its 2023 Sustainability Report today. The report communicates the sustainability initiatives and key metrics that demonstrate Cameco's progress to date and the continual advancement of our sustainability reporting.
"Our vision is to energize a clean-air world. As the world seeks to decarbonize, we also want to do our part and be an active partner in the fight against climate change. I am proud of the steps we have taken to reduce our carbon footprint, focus on environmental protection, and make our workplace more supportive and reflective of the communities where we live and work," Cameco President and CEO Tim Gitzel said.
"Cameco remains committed to quality reporting on sustainability matters to our investors, customers, employees, regulators, local Indigenous Peoples and communities around our operations."
In this report, Cameco has incorporated relevant Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) performance indicators and continued its progress toward integrating the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). The report can be downloaded or read online at www.cameco.com/about/sustainability
The 2023 Sustainability Report includes several notable highlights for Cameco:
- For the first time, we have included our estimated total Scope 3 emissions value and quantification method. We've begun engaging with key value chain partners and suppliers to learn about their energy and greenhouse gas emissions management activities and reduction opportunities.
- We completed the installation of a new closed-loop cooling water system at our Port Hope Conversion Facility, eliminating the need to use surface water for once-through cooling purposes, reducing energy use and water withdrawals.
- We developed tailored decarbonization pathways for all operationally controlled sites, including ideas collected from more than 160 decarbonization project suggestions received from across the company.
- In 2023, we completed physical risk assessments at all our fuel services operations, expanding on the work completed at the northern Saskatchewan operations in 2022.
- We provided work placements for 18 Indigenous individuals, 13 of whom were women.
- In 2023, about 50% of Cameco's employees in northern Saskatchewan were Indigenous and 74% of all spend on services for our northern sites was procured from northern-owned local businesses.
"The advantages of nuclear energy to provide carbon-free, constant and reliable power are being recognized globally in the fight against climate change and to achieve energy security. With growing electricity demand, we believe countries around the world are looking to Cameco to provide fuel to help de-carbonize their economies," Gitzel said. "Our joint acquisition of Westinghouse, a global provider of specialized nuclear technologies, products and services, is expected to augment our core business and expand our reach across the nuclear fuel cycle.
"Our achievements on sustainability priorities are critical to our ability to capitalize on the growing momentum in the nuclear industry."
Cameco's board of directors and executive team oversee the company's sustainability strategy, execution, and reporting. In addition to SASB and TCFD, the report contains other key performance indicators that we believe have an important bearing on Cameco's long-term sustainability, some of which are unique to our company and some of which are based on the GRI Standards framework that we used as the basis of our sustainability reporting prior to 2020. For the third year, we have obtained a third-party limited assurance report on selected performance indicators.
Profile
Cameco is one of the largest global providers of the uranium fuel needed to energize a clean-air world. Our competitive position is based on our controlling ownership of the world's largest high-grade reserves and low-cost operations, as well as significant investments across the nuclear fuel cycle, including ownership interests in Westinghouse Electric Company and Global Laser Enrichment. Utilities around the world rely on Cameco to provide global nuclear fuel solutions for the generation of safe, reliable, carbon-free nuclear power. Our shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges. Our head office is in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements
This news release includes statements considered to be forward-looking information or forward-looking statements under Canadian and U.S. securities laws (which we refer to as forward-looking information), including: our commitment to continual advancement of our sustainability reporting, our vision and views on the transition to a low-carbon economy and our desire to be an active partner in the fight against climate change, the demand for clean electricity, and the role of nuclear energy; our expectations regarding Cameco's role and the role of nuclear power more generally in combatting climate change; our commitment to quality reporting on sustainability matters; our engagement with key value chain partners and suppliers regarding energy and greenhouse gas emissions management activities and reduction opportunities; the elimination of need to use surface water for certain purposes; the effect of our acquisition of Westinghouse on our business and other matters. This forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions, including assumptions regarding: carbon emission reduction and the continued focus on transition to a low-carbon economy, the demand for clean energy and the contribution that could be made by nuclear energy to reduce climate change; our commitment and ability to advance our climate, environmental and social-related goals. This information is subject to a number of risks, including: the risk that carbon reduction goals may not be achieved within the expected timeframe, if at all; the risk that the demand for clean electricity will not meet the level we expect, or that nuclear energy will not make the contribution to carbon reduction that we expect; the risk that our estimates and forecasts and the data underlying them may be inaccurate; the risk that we will face unexpected challenges or delays in advancing our climate, environmental and social-related goals and that they may not achieve the intended outcomes or results in whole or in part; and the risk that our acquisition of Westinghouse will not yield the intended benefits for us or any at all. Additional assumptions and risks are detailed in the Caution About Forward-Looking Information in our ESG Report and pages 4-6 of our Management's Discussion and Analysis. The forward-looking information in this news release represents our current views, and actual results may differ significantly. Forward-looking information is designed to help you understand our current views, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. We will not necessarily update this information unless we are required to by securities laws.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240627372117/en/
Investor inquiries:
Cory Kos
306-716-6782
cory_kos@cameco.com
Media inquiries:
Veronica Baker
306-385-5541
veronica_baker@cameco.com
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