Energy Fuels (UUUU) – Energy Fuels signs agreement to secure REE supply


Thursday, December 28, 2023

Energy Fuels is a leading U.S.-based uranium mining company, supplying U3O8 to major nuclear utilities. Energy Fuels also produces vanadium from certain of its projects, as market conditions warrant, and is ramping up commercial-scale production of REE carbonate. Its corporate offices are in Lakewood, Colorado, near Denver, and all its assets and employees are in the United States. Energy Fuels holds three of America’s key uranium production centers: the White Mesa Mill in Utah, the Nichols Ranch in-situ recovery (“ISR”) Project in Wyoming, and the Alta Mesa ISR Project in Texas. 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 U3O8 per year, has the ability to produce vanadium when market conditions warrant, as well as REE carbonate from various uranium-bearing ores. The Nichols Ranch ISR Project is on standby and has a licensed capacity of 2 million pounds of U3O8 per year. The Alta Mesa ISR Project is also on standby and has a licensed capacity of 1.5 million pounds of U3O8 per year. 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 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.

Michael Heim, Senior Vice President, Equity Research Analyst, Energy & Transportation, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

UUUU and Astron Corp. executed a non-binding agreement to develop the Donald Mineral Sands Project. UUUU will contribute US$122 million in cash and $17.5 million in shares for a 49% interest and exclusive offtake for 7,000 (ramping up to 14,000) metric tons of monzanite sand annually. Energy Fuels has struggled to secure monzanite sand supply as it develops Rare Earth Element (REE) separation ability at its White Plains mill operations. The Donald Project is capable of supplying all of UUUU’s projected supply needs beginning in 2026 and supplements a similar size investment project for Energy Fuels in Brazil currently under development. Our models assume monazite supply of 20,000 metric tons in 2027 and beyond. The combined supply projects could mean Energy Fuels could expand REE operations beyond 20,000 tons faster than previously expected.

A MOU is just a MOU but the potential impact on revenues is significant. UUUU has exclusive investment rights through March 1, 2024 but has no assurances that the agreement will become official. Furthermore, the MOU does not indicate any implied supply costs. Management estimates that the monazite will produce 4,000-8,000 tonnes of TREO. The primary element from TREO is Neodymium currently trading around $56/kg or $56 million per 1,000 tonnes. With 850-1,700 tonnes of NdPr expected to be produced, the project could generate $100 million in sales before we start adding in the value of other elements. Margins are tougher to predict. We have assumed margins of 33% based on the operations of other publicly traded REE companies.

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This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

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