Image: Student Santiago Andrade interning at Caterpillar
Not Your Grandfathers Nuclear Reactor – Educating the Needed Nuclear Talent Pool
Human infrastructure is critical to any industry. Building the foundations so a new or quickly expanding technology can begin to flourish requires foresight. This forward planning also requires schools to recognize a need, student interest, and old and new industries then understanding that internships are two-way streets that benefit both the young, and also the entrenched. MIT created a unique program for students in the field of nuclear power generation. Below is an article republished from their website on the success of one of their programs. – Paul Hoffman, Channelchek
As nuclear power has gained greater recognition as a zero-emission energy source, the MIT Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) program has taken notice. Two years ago, LGO began a collaboration with MIT’s Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering (NSE) as a way to showcase the vital contribution of both business savvy and scientific rigor that LGO’s dual-degree graduates can offer this growing field.
“We saw that the future of fission and fusion required business acumen and management acumen,” says Professor Anne White, NSE department head. “People who are going to be leaders in our discipline, and leaders in the nuclear enterprise, are going to need all of the technical pieces of the puzzle that our engineering department can provide in terms of education and training. But they’re also going to need a much broader perspective on how the technology connects with society through the lens of business.”
The resulting response has been positive: “Companies are seeing the value of nuclear technology for their operations,” White says, and this often happens in unexpected ways.
For example, graduate student Santiago Andrade recently completed a research project at Caterpillar Inc., a preeminent manufacturer of mining and construction equipment. Caterpillar is one of more than 20 major companies that partner with the LGO program, offering six-month internships to each student. On the surface, it seemed like an improbable pairing; what could Andrade, who was pursuing his master’s in nuclear science and engineering, do for a manufacturing company? However, Caterpillar wanted to understand the technical and commercial feasibility of using nuclear energy to power mining sites and data centers when wind and solar weren’t viable.
“They are leaving no stone unturned in the search of financially smart solutions that can support the transition to a clean energy dependency,” Andrade says. “My project, along with many others’, is part of this effort.”
“The research done through the LGO program with Santiago is enabling Caterpillar to understand how alternative technologies, like the nuclear microreactor, could participate in these markets in the future,” says Brian George, product manager for large electric power solutions at Caterpillar. “Our ability to connect our customers with the research will provide for a more accurate understanding of the potential opportunity, and helps provide exposure for our customers to emerging technologies.”
With looming threats of climate change, White says, “We’re going to require more opportunities for nuclear technologies to step in and be part of those solutions. A cohort of LGO graduates will come through this program with technical expertise — a master’s degree in nuclear engineering — and an MBA. There’s going to be a tremendous talent pool out there to help companies and governments.”
Andrade, who completed an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering and had a strong background in thermodynamics, applied to LGO unsure of which track to choose, but he knew he wanted to confront the world’s energy challenge. When MIT Admissions suggested that he join LGO’s new nuclear track, he was intrigued by how it could further his career.
“Since the NSE department offers opportunities ranging from energy to health care and from quantum engineering to regulatory policy, the possibilities of career tracks after graduation are countless,” he says.
He was also inspired by the fact that, as he says, “Nuclear is one of the less-popular solutions in terms of our energy transition journey. One of the things that attracted me is that it’s not one of the most popular, but it’s one of the most useful.”
In addition to his work at Caterpillar, Andrade connected deeply with professors. He worked closely with professors Jacopo Buongiorno and John Parsons as a research assistant, helping them develop a business model to successfully support the deployment of nuclear microreactors. After graduation, he plans to work in the clean energy sector with an eye to innovations in the nuclear energy technology space.
His LGO classmate, Lindsey Kennington, a control systems engineer, echoes his sentiments: This is a revolutionary time for nuclear technology.
“Before MIT, I worked on a lot of nuclear waste or nuclear weapons-related projects. All of them were fission-related. I got disillusioned because of all the bureaucracy and the regulation,” Kennington says. “However, now there are a lot of new nuclear technologies coming straight out of MIT. Commonwealth Fusion Systems, a fusion startup, represents a prime example of MIT’s close relationship to new nuclear tech. Small modular reactors are another emerging technology being developed by MIT. Exposure to these cutting-edge technologies was the main sell factor for me.”
Kennington conducted an internship with National Grid, where she used her expertise to evaluate how existing nuclear power plants could generate hydrogen. At MIT, she studied nuclear and energy policy, which offered her additional perspective that traditional engineering classes might not have provided. Because nuclear power has long been a hot-button issue, Kennington was able to gain nuanced insight about the pathways and roadblocks to its implementation.
“I don’t think that other engineering departments emphasize that focus on policy quite as much. [Those classes] have been one of the most enriching parts of being in the nuclear department,” she says.
Most of all, she says, it’s a pivotal time to be part of a new, blossoming program at the forefront of clean energy, especially as fusion research grows more prevalent.
“We’re at an inflection point,” she says. “Whether or not we figure out fusion in the next five, 10, or 20 years, people are going to be working on it — and it’s a really exciting time to not only work on the science but to actually help the funding and business side grow.”
White puts it simply.
“This is not your parents’ nuclear,” she says. “It’s something totally different. Our discipline is evolving so rapidly that people who have technical expertise in nuclear will have a huge advantage in this next generation.”
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, CFA, Senior Research Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
The sales, along with recently signed utility contracts, will generate cash flow as UUUU starts up operations. Congress allocated $75 million to establish a national uranium security reserve in its 2020 budget. The US Energy Secretary indicated earlier that it expects to make four individual awards of 100,000-500,000 pounds of U3O8 for a total of 1 million pounds. Energy Fuels, as the largest licensed producer of uranium, was in a good position to receive one of the rewards. The UUUU announcement did not indicate a volume level. Peninsula Energy announced that it received an award for 300,000 pounds but did not specify a sales amount.
The sales can be done right away before mining operations are restarted. The conditions of the DOE award state that the uranium must be physically located at Honeywell’s conversion facilities in Metropolis, IL. Energy Fuels currently holds about 610,000 pounds of U3O8 at Metropolis worth more than $30 million at current uranium spot prices. A volume awards similar to that for Peninsula seems reasonable implying that the DOE is paying a price near $60/lb. or slightly above current spot prices, and be well within current inventory levels.
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Nuclear Power Plant Start Will be Delayed as Reliable US Fuel Production Needs to Improve
The energy and fuel shortages stemming from the Russia/Ukraine war extend beyond oil and gas. A sharp impact is also being felt in the nuclear energy world as uranium is less available for new and existing plants. In the US, TerraPower’s natrium reactor completion date is now estimated at least two years beyond the original plan. This is because of problems securing the proper fuel. TerraPower is a start-up co-founded by Bill Gates with support from Warren Buffett to revolutionize nuclear reactor design and methods. The natrium reactor being built as a test of the technology is being built in Kemmerer, Wyoming, which is considered a coal town. The original completion date was 2028.
What is Now Expected
The company expects the natrium demonstration reactor operation to be delayed by at least two years because there will not be sufficient commercial capacity to produce high-assay low-enriched uranium fuel to test come the original 2028 in-service date.
TerraPower’s CEO and President Chris Levesque said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year caused “the only commercial source of HALEU fuel” to no longer be a viable part of the supply chain. The company is now working with the US Department of Energy (DOE), Congress, and project stakeholders to explore potential alternative sources. Levesque said, “while we are working now with Congress to urge the inclusion of $2.1 billion to support HALEU in the end-of-year government funding package, it has become clear that domestic and allied HALEU manufacturing options will not reach commercial capacity in time to meet the proposed 2028 in-service date for the Natrium demonstration plant.”
The company has not provided a new schedule but expects to in 2023, when there may be more clarity of what will be available and when. “But given the lack of fuel availability now and that there has been no construction started on new fuel enrichment facilities, TerraPower is anticipating a minimum of a two-year delay to being able to bring the Natrium reactor into operation,” Levesque warned.
About the Plant and its Fuel
Kemmerer in Wyoming was selected in 2021 as the preferred site for the Natrium demonstration project, featuring a 345 MWe sodium-cooled fast reactor with a molten salt-based energy storage system. TerraPower remains fully committed to the project and is “moving full steam ahead” on the construction of the plant, licensing applications and engineering and design work, Levesque added. Work scheduled to begin in Spring 2023 on the large sodium facility will continue as planned, and TerraPower expects “minimal disruption” to the current projected start-of-construction date.
HALEU fuel is enriched to between 5% and 20% uranium-235, and is the fuel type which will fuel most of the next-generation reactor designs. The DOE has projected a national need for more than 40 tonnes of HALEU before the end of the decade to support the current administration’s goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035.
Funding the Construction
Gates helped found TerraPower in 2006 and has been the company’s chairman. TerraPower’s goal is to provide more affordable, secure, and environmentally friendly nuclear energy globally. The plant is expected to cost $4 billion. To date, $1.6 billion has been appropriated by Congress, and private funding of $830 has been raised by TerraPower.
Wyoming US Senator John Barrasso responded to the announcement saying the US ” must reestablish itself as the global leader in nuclear energy. Instead of relying on our adversaries like Russia for uranium, the United States must produce its own supply of advanced nuclear fuel.” He said he has sent a letter to Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Joe Manchin requesting an oversight hearing early next year to ensure that DOE is “working aggressively” to make HALEU available for the USA’s first advanced reactors. He also said he has written to Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm today “blasting DOE for not moving fast enough to ensure a domestic supply of HALEU”.
Take Away
The Natrium project by Bill Gate’s company, with support from US tax dollars and Warren Buffett, is being constructed as a test. One thing the test bore out is that securing a reliable fuel supply needs a good deal more work.
Natrium plants are smaller and use current technology. These plants are expected to be built faster and cheaper than a traditional large-scale nuclear power plant. When first announced last year, Gates and Buffett said that once successfully demonstrated, the plant could be quickly expanded or replicated elsewhere.
DOE program supports critical domestic clean energy & national security priorities
Pending membership in DOE HALEU Consortium to support fuel for next generation advanced nuclear reactors
LAKEWOOD, Colo., Dec. 16, 2022 /CNW/ – Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR) (“Energy Fuels” or the “Company”), a leading U.S. producer of uranium and rare earth elements (“REE“), today announced that it has been awarded a contract to sell $18.5 million of natural uranium concentrates (“U3O8“) to the U.S. government for the establishment of a strategic uranium reserve (the “Uranium Reserve“). The U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (“NNSA“), an office within the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE“), is the agency tasked with purchasing domestic U3O8 and conversion services for the Uranium Reserve. The Uranium Reserve is intended to be a backup source of supply for domestic nuclear power plants in the event of a significant market disruption. Additionally, the Company announced its application for membership in the DOE’s newly created HALEU Consortium.
Uranium Reserve Award:
Energy Fuels expects to complete the sale of uranium for the Uranium Reserve to NNSA during Q1-2023 and realize total gross proceeds of $18.5 million. The U3O8 the Company expects to sell to the U.S. government is currently held in the Company’s inventory at the Metropolis Works Conversion Facility, located in Metropolis, Illinois. The sale does not involve the physical movement of material, so the sale and transfer can be completed quickly.
Mark S. Chalmers, President and CEO of Energy Fuels stated: “Energy Fuels is pleased to contribute to U.S. energy security by supplying U.S.-origin uranium to the U.S. uranium reserve. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has highlighted America’s troubling dependence on Russia and its allies for our nuclear fuel and uranium supply, and the need for the U.S. to rebuild its uranium and nuclear fuel capabilities. Today, nuclear energy provides the U.S. with roughly 20% of all electricity, and 50% of our clean, carbon-free electricity. U.S. and European nuclear industries are actively working to shift away from Russian uranium supply, but the process will be difficult and lengthy. The U.S. can rely on supply from allies like Canada, Australia and others for a large proportion of our uranium and nuclear fuel supply, but we must also restore our own capabilities. For the past several years, U.S. uranium production has been near-zero and our only uranium conversion facility has been shut-down. The Uranium Reserve is a small, but important, step toward resolving this untenable situation.”
HALEU Consortium:
On December 12, 2022, Energy Fuels also applied for membership in the DOE’s newly created HALEU Consortium. The HALEU Consortium is a program managed by the DOE’s office of Nuclear Energy (“NE“) intended to help create a secure domestic supply of high-assay, low-enriched uranium (“HALEU“) used by many of the next generation of advanced nuclear reactor technologies. HALEU enables many advanced reactor designs to be smaller and more efficient than traditional reactors. The uranium used in traditional nuclear reactors is enriched to roughly 3% – 5% of the fissionable isotope, uranium-235 (“U-235“). HALEU is enriched to between 5% and 20% U-235. Today, only Russian companies are able to supply HALEU, which is causing delays in the development of advanced reactors. For example, TerraPower recently announced a delay in building its first Natrium reactor in Wyoming. TerraPower is a high-profile next generation advanced reactor developer funded by Bill Gates. TerraPower specifically attributed the delay to the lack of availability of HALEU outside of Russia.
As the leading producer of U3O8 in the U.S., and the owner and operator of the only conventional uranium mill in the U.S., Energy Fuels believes it can play an important role in advising the DOE and teaming with other companies for this critical program. Furthermore, Energy Fuels is pursuing other DOE priorities related to uranium production, including rare earth element and medical isotope production.
Mr. Chalmers continued: “Energy Fuels is increasingly recognized by the U.S. government and other market participants as indispensable to weaning the U.S. off of Russian uranium supply, and as a solid partner in other important priorities. Our White Mesa Mill is critical and unique domestic infrastructure, with licenses, expertise and capabilities found nowhere else in the U.S., that are needed to produce uranium, and many other critical minerals and materials. We stand ready to play a critical role in restoring America’s uranium, rare earths, and other critical material capabilities, while reducing our troubling dependence on Russia and China.”
About Energy Fuels: Energy Fuels is a leading U.S.-based uranium mining company, supplying U3O8 to major nuclear utilities. The Company also produces vanadium from certain of its projects, as market conditions warrant, mixed rare earth element carbonate (“RE Carbonate“) from uranium-bearing monazite ores and is ramping up to full commercial-scale production of separated rare earth oxides. Its corporate offices are in Lakewood, Colorado near Denver, and 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 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 U3O8 per year, and has the ability to produce vanadium when market conditions warrant, as well as RE Carbonate from various uranium-bearing ores. The Nichols Ranch ISR Project is currently on standby and has a licensed capacity of 2 million pounds of U3O8 per year. In addition to the above production facilities, Energy Fuels also has one of the largest S-K 1300 and 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.
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 complete the contemplated sale of uranium to the DOE in Q1-2023 or at all; any expectation that the Company will maintain its position as a leading uranium company in the United States; any expectation that the Company will be admitted as a member of the HALEU Consortium or that the Company can play an important role in this critical program; any expectation that the Mill will be successful in producing RE Carbonate and/or separated rare earth element oxides on a full-scale commercial basis or at all; any expectation that the Company will successfully produce radioisotopes to be used for the production of medical isotopes on a commercial basis or at all; any expectation that the Company is increasingly being recognized by the U.S. government and other market participants as an indispensable party in efforts to wean the U.S. off of Russian uranium supply, and a partner in other important priorities; and any expectation that the Company stands ready to play a critical role in restoring America’s uranium, rare earths and other critical material capabilities, while reducing America’s dependence on Russia and China. 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; 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; available supplies of monazite sands; the ability of the Mill to produce RE Carbonate to meet commercial specifications on a commercial scale at acceptable costs; the ability of the Mill to separate rare earth oxides to meet commercial specifications on a commercial scale at acceptable costs; market factors, including future demand for rare earth elements; 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.
SOURCE Energy Fuels Inc.
For further information: Investor Inquiries: Energy Fuels Inc., Curtis Moore, VP – Marketing and Corporate Development, (303) 974-2140 or Toll free: (888) 864-2125, investorinfo@energyfuels.com, www.energyfuels.com
Non-dilutive sale of asset expected to materially enhance Energy Fuels’ balance sheet and help to fund the rapid advancement and expansion of near-term U.S. uranium and rare earth production
LAKEWOOD, Colo., Nov. 14, 2022 /CNW/ – Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR) (“Energy Fuels” or the “Company”), a leading U.S. producer of uranium and rare earth elements (“REE“), is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell three wholly-owned subsidiaries that together hold Energy Fuels’ Alta Mesa ISR Project (“Alta Mesa“) to enCore Energy (“enCore“) for total consideration of $120 million (the “Transaction“). The Transaction is expected to close by the end of 2022 or early 2023.
The Transaction is significant for the Company, as the cash received is expected to fully finance much of the Company’s uranium, REE, vanadium and medical isotope business plans for the next two to three years without diluting shareholders. These plans may include:
Ramping-up uranium production at one or more of the White Mesa Mill, the Nichols Ranch ISR Project, the Pinyon Plain mine, the La Sal Complex, and/or the Whirlwind mine which total up to two (2) million pounds of U3O8 per year of near-term, lower cost U.S. production capacity in order to fulfill commitments under existing and future long-term uranium supply agreements and as market conditions may warrant;
Accelerating the licensing and development of the Company’s larger-scale uranium mines, including the Sheep Mountain, Roca Honda, and/or Bullfrog projects, which together will add over five (5) million pounds of production capacity in the next several years;
Establishing an “ore purchasing” program to secure additional feed to the White Mesa Mill, from others in the region as uranium mining picks up in the region, thereby maximizing the facility’s existing eight (8) million pounds per year licensed uranium production capacity and having sole ownership of this production;
Financing the construction of “first to market” in the U.S. “Phase 1” REE separation infrastructure (up to 2,500 – 5,000 MT per year TREO capacity, including 500 – 1,000 MT per year of NdPr oxide or oxalate expected) at the White Mesa Mill;
Advancing the design, engineering and permitting of a planned, large “world significant” “Phase 2” crack-and-leach and “light” and “heavy” REE separation facility (up to 15,000 mT per year TREO capacity).
Developing the Company’s Bahia heavy mineral sand and REE project in Brazil upon successful acquisition of the project; and
Acquiring additional monazite supply to feed the Company’s rapidly growing REE business.
The $120 million of total consideration will be paid by enCore to Energy Fuels as follows:
$60 million cash at closing; and
$60 million in a secured convertible note (the “Note”), payable in two years from the closing, bearing annual interest of eight percent (8%). The Note will be convertible at Energy Fuels’ election into enCore shares at a 20% premium to the 10-day volume-weighted average price of enCore shares ending the day before the closing. enCore is currently traded on the TSXV and has applied for a listing on the NASDAQ. The Note will be guaranteed by enCore Energy Corp., will be fully secured by Alta Mesa, and enCore will not be permitted to further encumber Alta Mesa with any third-party indebtedness, royalty or stream while the Note is outstanding. Unless a block trade or similar distribution is executed by Energy Fuels to sell the enCore common shares underlying the Note, Energy Fuels will be limited to converting the Note into a maximum of $10 million principal amount of the Note per thirty (30) day period.
Furthermore, enCore will assume all reclamation liabilities associated with Alta Mesa (approximately $10.3 million) and pay Energy Fuels the cash collateral on the existing reclamation bonds (approximately $3.6 million). Once the reclamation liabilities are transferred to enCore, Energy Fuels will be nearly 60% collateralized on its remaining reclamation obligations. The Company also estimates that the sale of Alta Mesa will reduce Energy Fuels’ cash burn by approximately $2 million per year.
Energy Fuels acquired Alta Mesa in 2016 for approximately $13.6 million of shares, and currently carries this project on its balance sheet at $8.2 million. The Transaction represents an exceptional return on investment for Energy Fuels, and the value metrics of the Transaction compare favorably against precedent transactions within the uranium sector. Energy Fuels expects to replace the expected uranium production from Alta Mesa through permitting and production from its existing larger mining projects, ore purchases, toll milling arrangements, additional alternate feed and clean-up material, and potentially other transactions as market conditions may warrant.
Mark S. Chalmers, President and CEO of Energy Fuels stated: “This is a unique transaction for Energy Fuels. Not only does it allow us to monetize the Alta Mesa Project for $120 million, it allows our company to focus and accelerate our higher priority uranium and rare earth projects without dilution to our shareholders. This non-dilutive transaction will add cash to Energy Fuels’ significant working capital position, which was $122 million at September 30, 2022. Energy Fuels will also retain some exposure to short-term market upside and optionality at Alta Mesa and enCore through the convertible note.
“With recent uranium market strength and having secured new long-term uranium contracts with major U.S. nuclear utilities earlier this year, the Company is beginning to perform the work needed to recommence production at one or more of our projects, with production expected to start as soon as 2023. We have already hired about 20 people, and the cash we receive from the Alta Mesa transaction will help further fund this ramp-up. On top of this, the Company plans to establish an “ore purchasing” program from future uranium mining from others that maximizes the underutilized uranium production capacity of the White Mesa Mill with the uranium produced going 100% to our account in a way that others cannot. Energy Fuels absolutely intends to retain our position as the leading producer of uranium in the U.S. through our remaining outstanding portfolio of ISR and conventional uranium assets, and this transaction with enCore helps to both finance and focus our plans in this regard without dilution associated with equity financings.
“This cash also helps facilitate our plans to install rare earth separation infrastructure at our White Mesa Mill, including the expected capacity to produce approximately 500 – 1,000 tonnes per annum of separated ‘light’ rare earth oxides (or oxalates) by the end of 2023 or early 2024. We are also working on a number of fronts to secure additional monazite supply to feed our new rare earth infrastructure, and we expect this cash to significantly help finance purchases of monazite, fund our Bahia project in Brazil upon successful completion of that acquisition, and otherwise help in this regard. If we are successful with our rare earth initiatives, we have the potential to be the ‘first-to-market’ in the U.S. for the sale of commercial quantities of separated NdPr oxides (or oxalates), a raw material for rare earth permanent magnets used in electric vehicle drivetrains, wind energy systems, and defense applications. For reference, high-efficiency EVs each require about one to two kilograms of NdPr oxide. Therefore, in the next 12-18 months, if we are successful in constructing our Phase 1 rare earth separation capabilities, Energy Fuels could be domestically producing enough magnet material for 250,000 to 1 million EV drivetrains per year.
“I also believe this Transaction represents an important step forward for enCore Energy. Alta Mesa is a fully permitted and developed U.S. uranium project, and enCore’s President and CEO, Paul Goranson, knows it well, having constructed and operated it himself about ten years ago. To us, this appears to be a value creative transaction for both Energy Fuels and enCore.”
The closing of the Transaction is expected to occur by December 31, 2022. If the Transaction is not completed due to certain circumstances, enCore is required to pay to Energy Fuels a $6 million break fee.
Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation is acting as Energy Fuels’ financial advisor and Dorsey & Whitney LLP and Dentons are acting as Energy Fuels’ legal advisors in connection with the Transaction.
About Energy Fuels: Energy Fuels is a leading U.S.-based uranium mining company, supplying U3O8 to major nuclear utilities. The Company also produces vanadium from certain of its projects, as market conditions warrant, and is ramping up to full commercial-scale production of RE 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 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, and has the ability to produce vanadium when market conditions warrant, as well as RE Carbonate from various uranium-bearing ores. The Nichols Ranch ISR Project is currently on standby and has a licensed capacity of 2 million pounds of U3O8 per year. The Alta Mesa ISR Project is also currently 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 S-K 1300 and 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.
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: production and sales forecasts; the ability of the Company to accelerate uranium and rare earth production; scalability, and the Company’s ability and readiness to re-start, expand or deploy any of its existing projects or capacity to respond to any improvements in uranium market conditions;; any expectation as to the timing of the closing of the Transaction or whether the closing will in fact occur; any expectation that the Transaction may fully finance much of the Company’s uranium, rare earth, vanadium, and medical isotope business plans for the next two to three years; any expectation that the Company may license and eventually produce uranium from its Sheep Mountain, Roca Honda and/or Bullfrog projects; any expectation as to recommencement of production at any of the Company’s uranium mines or the timing thereof; any expectation as to the ability of the Company to secure any new sources of ore or other processing opportunities at the Mill through an ore purchasing program; any expectation as to timelines for the permitting and development of projects; any expectation that the Company will maintain its position as a leading uranium company in the United States; any expectation with respect to timelines to production; any expectation that the Mill will be successful in producing RE Carbonate and/or separated REE oxides or oxalates on a full-scale commercial basis; any expectation that Energy Fuels will be successful in developing U.S. separation, or other value-added U.S. REE production capabilities at the Mill, or otherwise, including the timing of any such initiatives and the expected production capacity or capital and operating costs associated with any such production capabilities; any expectation with respect to the quantities of monazite sands to be acquired by Energy Fuels, the quantities of RE Carbonate to be produced by the Mill or the quantities of contained TREO in the Mill’s RE Carbonate; any expectation that the Company may sell its separated NdPr oxide (or oxalate) to major electric vehicle manufacturers in the U.S. and Europe; any expectation that the Bahia Project has the potential to feed the Mill with REE and uranium-bearing monazite sand for decades; any expectation as to the quantities to be delivered under existing uranium sales contracts, or that such contracts may help underpin the Company’s uranium business for many years to come; and any expectation that the Company will generate net income in future periods. 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; processing and mining difficulties, upsets and delays; permitting and licensing requirements and delays; changes to regulatory requirements; legal challenges; the availability of sources of Alternate Feed Materials and other feed sources for the Mill; competition from other producers; public opinion; government and political actions; available supplies of monazite sands; the ability of the Mill to produce RE Carbonate to meet commercial specifications on a commercial scale at acceptable costs; the ability of Neo to separate the RE Carbonate produced by the Mill to meet commercial specifications on a commercial scale at acceptable costs; market factors, including future demand for REEs; 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.
SOURCE Energy Fuels Inc.
For further information: Investor Inquiries: Energy Fuels Inc., Curtis Moore, VP – Marketing and Corporate Development, (303) 974-2140 or Toll free: (888) 864-2125, investorinfo@energyfuels.com, www.energyfuels.com
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, CFA, Senior Research Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
CEO Marc Chalmers held a call with analysts and investors devoid of new announcements. Financial results were not even discussed save a quick mention that net income was $(9.2) million versus $(7.9) million, in line with our $(8.8) million estimate. Working capital remains strong at $122 million, 73% of which is cash. Management acknowledged that new releases have been slow this quarter, but emphasized that Energy Fuels is making extraordinary progress towards its goals. In a shortened and noticeably energetic presentation, management said several key quotes demonstrating their optimism towards the progress the company was making.
Uranium production is close. Management indicated that “utilities are moving away from Russian supply”. It reiterated that it has entered into three contracts with utilities that begin in 2023 and that the company has hired 20 employees to get uranium mining to be “push button ready” in “12 months or less”. Mr. Chalmers indicated that utilities in existing supply contracts want to “flex up” to higher levels and that he expects the company to sign additional contracts soon. UUUU has 760,000 lbs. in inventory to fulfill contracts and expects to mine 130,000-140,000 lbs. and produce 170,000 lbs. from unprocessed ore in 2023. No update on DOE plans to purchase up to 1 million lbs. for a national uranium reserve but UUUU is in a good position to be selected.
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.
LAKEWOOD, Colo., Nov. 4, 2022 /CNW/ – Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR) (“Energy Fuels” or the “Company”) today reported its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2022. The Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC“) and may be viewed on the Electronic Document Gathering and Retrieval System (“EDGAR“) at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml, on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (“SEDAR“) at www.sedar.com, and on the Company’s website at www.energyfuels.com. Unless noted otherwise, all dollar amounts are in U.S. dollars.
Highlights:
At September 30, 2022, the Company had a robust balance sheet with $122.3 million of working capital, including $77.1 million of cash and cash equivalents, $11.6 million of marketable securities, $27.3 million of inventory, and no short term (or long term) debt. At current commodity prices, the Company’s product inventory has a value of $44.1 million.
During the quarter ended September 30, 2022, the Company incurred a net loss of $9.3 million, which includes increases in development, permitting and land holding costs and selling, general and administration costs associated with the Company’s efforts to enhance its business processes and operational readiness for the current and future growth and activity in our uranium and rare earth element (“REE“) operations.
With recent uranium market strength and having secured three long-term uranium contracts with major U.S. utilities earlier this year, the Company has hired over 20 new employees and is beginning to perform the work needed to recommence production at one or more of our mines and ISR facilities, starting as soon as 2023. Until such time when the Company has ramped back up to commercial uranium production, we can rely on our significant uranium inventories to fulfill our new contract requirements.
In June 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE“) issued a Request for Proposals (“RFP“) to purchase uranium (“U3O8“) for the new U.S. Uranium Reserve Program. The DOE states that they expect to purchase up to 1 million pounds of U3O8 inventory from up to four (4) qualified U.S. uranium producers with individual awards ranging from 100,000 pounds to 500,000 pounds. The uranium must be physically located at Honeywell’s Metropolis Works conversion facility (the “U.S. Converter“). Energy Fuels believes it meets all qualifications to supply the Reserve, and the Company currently holds about 610,000 pounds of U3O8 at the U.S. Converter. The Company has submitted a bid to sell U3O8 to the Reserve, taking into consideration our long-term contract commitments and current and expected market conditions. There are no guarantees the DOE will purchase uranium from the Company under this RFP. Assuming the bid review process is not extended by DOE, the Company expects the DOE to issue the awards by mid-November 2022, with deliveries expected to occur by the end of 2022 or early 2023.
During the first nine months of 2022, the Company produced approximately 205 tonnes of mixed partially separated carbonate (“RE Carbonate“), containing approximately 95 tonnes of total rare earth oxides (“TREO“). Energy Fuels’ partially separated RE Carbonate contains a higher concentration of valuable NdPr, roughly 32% – 34% NdPr, compared to our previously produced non-separated RE Concentrate which contained approximately 22% NdPr, and is the most advanced REE material being produced in the U.S. today. During Q4-2022, the Company expects to receive approximately 640 tonnes of monazite, which will be processed into partially separated RE Carbonate during Q4-2022 and Q1-2023.
In May 2022, the Company announced it had entered into agreements to acquire a 58 square mile rare earth land position in Brazil (the “Bahia Project“). The Bahia Project is a well-known heavy mineral sand (“HMS“) deposit that has the potential to feed the Company’s White Mesa Mill with REE and uranium-bearing monazite sand for decades. Due diligence on the Bahia Project was completed at the end of August, at which time the Company advised the sellers that it intended to proceed with the purchases and was ready to commence closing procedures. After completion of a number of administrative logistics required in both the U.S. and Brazil, the mineral transfers were initiated in mid-October, and closing is currently expected to occur in late 2022 or early 2023 upon approval of the Brazilian governmental authorities reviewing the pending transfers. Upon acquisition, the Company plans to conduct an extensive exploration program to better define the HMS and monazite resource, including comprehensive sonic drilling (for a total phase 1 program of 2,250 meters) and geophysical mapping, with the intent to undertake an Initial Assessment under SK-1300 (U.S.) and a Technical Report under NI 43-101 (Canada) during Q4-2023, to be completed in early Q1-2024.
The Company is currently in active discussions with several additional sources of natural monazite sands around the world to significantly increase the supply of feed for our growing REE initiative.
The Company continues to make excellent progress toward installing full REE separation capabilities at the Mill to produce both “light” and “heavy” separated REE oxides in the coming years. The Company plans to initially install a “light” REE separation circuit within the existing Mill facilities in the next 12-18 months with the expected ability to produce between 2,500 – 5,000 tonnes TREO (500 – 1,000 tonnes NdPr oxide or oxalates) per year. As this circuit would be constructed within existing Mill facilities, capital expenditures are expected to be low. The Company is also proceeding with the design, engineering and permitting of a separate crack and leach circuit and a second larger “light” and “heavy” separations circuit with capacity in the order of 10,000 – 15,000 tonnes TREO per year to provide additional REE processing capacity at the Mill in the coming years.
During the first nine months of 2022, the Company sold approximately 642,000 pounds of existing inventory of vanadium (“V2O5“) (as ferrovanadium, “FeV“), for an average weighted net price of $13.69 per pound of V2O5. Vanadium markets have dropped in recent months. Therefore, the Company has halted sales of its inventory which currently stands at approximately 987,000 pounds of V2O5. However, the Company expects to resume sales as markets may improve in the future. The Company is evaluating the potential to resume vanadium recovery at the Mill in the future as market conditions may warrant for future sale and to replace sold inventory, where its tailings pond solutions contain an estimated additional 1.0 to 3.0 million recoverable pounds of V2O5.
Mark S. Chalmers, Energy Fuels’ President and CEO, stated:
“Energy Fuels continues to strengthen our U.S. market leading position in uranium and rare earth elements, which are both critical to the clean energy transition. Energy Fuels has ‘one-of-a-kind’ competencies that are critical to uranium, rare earth elements, medical isotopes, and vanadium markets; namely our ability to process feedstocks that are naturally radioactive and recover critical materials needed for the clean energy transition. No other company in the U.S. can do the things Energy Fuels does. We are committed to advancing each of these initiatives in a disciplined manner, while working toward profitability and sustained cash flow.
“Uranium is the fuel for carbon-free nuclear energy, and nations around the world are embracing nuclear, as it provides reliable, carbon-free, baseload electricity. Governments in numerous countries, including the U.S., are supporting both existing and new nuclear to help solve national security, energy security, and carbon reduction challenges. We are saddened by the continuing atrocities being committed by Russian forces in Ukraine, and we stand by our partners in the U.S. nuclear industry and the U.S. government to shift away from Russian uranium and nuclear fuel imports as soon as practicable. As previously disclosed, Energy Fuels has signed new long-term uranium sales contracts with major U.S. nuclear utilities, with sales – and sales revenues – beginning in 2023. We are also excited to announce that we are making significant investments in a number of our existing mines and production facilities, including hiring people, with an eye toward resuming large-scale uranium production very soon. We have been the only U.S. company to continue to produce uranium over the past several years, while maintaining several of our projects on standby status, which provides an excellent foundation from which we can build our production in the coming years. We look forward to maintaining our position as the largest U.S. uranium producer and being a long-term supplier of secure and responsibly sourced U.S. uranium that is insulated from geopolitical, transport, and other supply chain issues. We are also pleased to have been able to submit a bid to sell uranium to the U.S. government under the new U.S. Uranium Reserve, a program that resulted from the Company’s 2018 Section 232 Petition, and we eagerly await the results of that bidding process.
“We also continue to make spectacular progress on rare earth elements. Indeed, we are pleased to announce that we plan to install a commercial-scale “light” rare earth separation circuit within the existing footprint of our White Mesa Mill in Utah that we expect to be operational in the next 12 – 18 months. We are already producing the most advanced rare earth product in the U.S. today, a high-purity, partially separated mixed rare earth carbonate. We expect to go one step further by producing up to 500 – 1,000 tonnes of NdPr oxide (or oxalates) per year by late-2023 or early-2024. If successful, we hope to be the ‘first to market’ in the U.S. for this high-value, advanced material. We anticipate selling our separated NdPr oxide (or oxalate) to major electric vehicle manufacturers in the U.S. and Europe, with a goal to significantly increase this capacity in coming years. This should position Energy Fuels as one of the ‘go to’ suppliers of advanced rare earth materials in the U.S. and one of the first companies that electric vehicle (EV) and other clean technology manufacturers look to for the raw materials they need. Ultimately, we plan to install the capacity to produce over 3,000 tonnes of NdPr oxide, plus 250 tonnes of dysprosium oxide and 100 tonnes of terbium oxide per year, in the next 3-4 years, subject to licensing, commissioning, financing, offtake, market conditions, and sufficient monazite feedstock.
“On the monazite feedstock front, we continue to make excellent progress. With regard to our Bahia Project in Brazil, we continue to move diligently toward closing. The mineral transfers were initiated in mid-October after a number of administrative logistics required for closing were completed in both the U.S. and Brazil. Closing is scheduled to occur as soon as the transfers have been approved by the Brazilian governmental authorities reviewing the pending transfers, which we expect by the end of 2022 or in early 2023. Upon acquisition, the Company plans to conduct an initial phase of exploration drilling on the properties, totaling 2,250 meters, in order to maintain expected production timelines. In addition, we continue discussions with a number of monazite suppliers from around the world interested in partnering with Energy Fuels, and we are confident in our ability to secure monazite supply deals that ensure a ‘win-win’ for both Energy Fuels and our partners.
“Finally, we continue to make progress on medical isotopes with major players in the space. If we can successfully recover radioactive isotopes needed for emerging cancer treatments from our existing process streams, we will have secured yet another opportunity to generate significant cash flows in the next 5 to 10 years. We also continue to track vanadium markets to determine when to resume sales of our existing inventories and when to resume production.”
Webcast at 4:00 pm ET on November 8, 2022:
Energy Fuels will be hosting a video webcast on November 8, 2022 at 4:00 pm ET (2:00 pm MT) to discuss its Q3-2022 financial results, the outlook for 2022, uranium, rare earths, vanadium, and medical isotopes. To join the webcast and access the presentation and viewer-controlled webcast slides, please click on the link below:
Webcast Link
If you would like to participate in the webcast and ask questions, please dial in to 1-888-664-6392 (toll free in the U.S. and Canada).
A link to a recorded version of the proceedings will be available on the Company’s website shortly after the webcast by calling 1-888-390-0541 (toll free in the U.S. and Canada) and by entering the code 619525#. The recording will be available until November 22, 2022.
Financial Discussion:
At September 30, 2022, the Company had $122.3 million of working capital, including $88.7 million of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities and $27.3 million of inventory, including approximately 692,000 pounds of uranium and 987,000 pounds of high-purity vanadium, both in the form of immediately marketable product. The current spot price of U3O8, according to TradeTech, is $52.50 per pound, and the current mid-point spot price of V2O5, according to Metal Bulletin, is $7.80 per pound. Based on those spot prices, the Company’s uranium and vanadium inventories have a current market value of $36.3 million and $7.7 million, respectively, totaling $44.0 million. The Company also holds RE Carbonate inventory with a current value of $0.1 million, for total product inventory of $44.1 million at current commodity prices.
During the quarter ended September 30, 2022, the Company incurred a net loss of $9.3 million, compared to a net loss of $8.0 million for the third quarter of 2021, and a net loss of $42.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to a net loss of $29.7 million during the first nine months of 2021. The increased net losses in 2022 are due primarily to a non-cash mark-to-market decrease in the value of investments accounted for at fair value of $13.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022.
Operations Update and Outlook for 2022:
Overview
The Company continues to believe that uranium supply and demand fundamentals point to higher sustained uranium prices in the future. In addition, Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine and the recent entry into the uranium market by financial entities purchasing uranium on the spot market to hold for the long-term has the potential to result in higher sustained spot and term prices and, perhaps, induce utilities to enter into more long-term contracts with non-Russian producers like Energy Fuels to ensure security of supply and more certain pricing. Having recently secured three long-term uranium contracts with major U.S. utilities, the Company is beginning to perform the work needed to recommence production at one or more of its mines and ISR facilities, starting as soon as 2023. Until such time when the Company has ramped back up to commercial uranium production, it can rely on its significant uranium inventories to fulfill its new contract requirements. To that end, the Company purchased an additional 68,552 pounds of U. S. origin U3O8 on the spot market in October 2022. The Company also continues to evaluate selling a portion of its inventories on the spot market in response to future upside price volatility, into the newly created U.S. Uranium Reserve Program, or for delivery into additional long-term supply contracts if procured. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company also sold a portion of its vanadium inventory into then strengthening markets.
The Company will also continue to seek new sources of revenue, including through its emerging REE business, as well as new sources of Alternate Feed Materials and new fee processing opportunities at the Mill that can be processed without reliance on current uranium sales prices. The Company is also seeking new sources of natural monazite sands (in addition to the pending acquisition of the Bahia Project) for its emerging REE business, is evaluating the potential to recover radioisotopes for use in the development of targeted alpha therapy medical isotopes for the treatment of cancer, and continues its support of U.S. governmental activities to assist the U.S. uranium mining industry, including the new U.S. Uranium Reserve Program and other efforts to restore domestic nuclear fuel capabilities.
Extraction and Recovery Activities Overview
During 2022, the Company plans to recover 130,000 to 140,000 pounds of uranium, which is an increase over our previous guidance of 100,000 to 120,000 pounds of uranium in 2022. This increased uranium production in 2022, combined with other factors, has resulted in a delayed start of our second REE processing campaign in 2022, which is now expected to commence in November 2022 and carry over into Q1 2023. As a result, the Company now expects to produce approximately 205 tonnes of partially separated RE Carbonate in 2022 containing approximately 95 tonnes of high-value partially separated TREO, with the remaining production from the second 2022 REE processing campaign of approximately 410 tonnes of partially separated RE Carbonate containing approximately 200 tonnes of high-value partially separated TREO being packaged in and attributable to Q1 2023. The total expected production from this second 2022 campaign plus production to date in 2022 is equivalent to approximately 831 tons of non-separated RE Carbonate containing approximately 400 tonnes of non-separated TREO, which falls within our 2022 guidance of 650-1,000 tons of non-separated RE Carbonate containing 300-650 tonnes of non-separated TREO, although a portion of that total expected production will carry over into 2023.
No vanadium production is currently planned during 2022, though the Company sold some of its existing vanadium inventory into recent strong markets and is evaluating the potential to recommence vanadium production in 2023 or later years as market conditions may warrant for future sale and to replace sold inventory.
The Company secured three new long-term sales contracts with U.S. nuclear utilities in May 2022 and is continuing to strategically pursue additional uranium sales commitments with pricing expected to have both fixed and market-related components. The Company believes that recent price increases, volatility and focus on security of supply in light of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine have increased the potential for the Company to make uranium sales and procure additional term sales contracts with utilities at pricing that sustains production and covers corporate overhead. Therefore, existing inventories may increase from 760,000 pounds of U3O8 (692,000 pounds as of September 30, 2022 plus 68,552 pounds acquired after quarter end) to 890,000 to 900,000 pounds of U3O8 at year-end 2022 or may increase to a lesser extent, or be reduced, in the event the Company sells a portion of its inventory on the spot market, to the U.S. Uranium Reserve Program, or pursuant to term contracts in 2022.
ISR Activities
The Company expects to produce insignificant quantities of U3O8 in the year ending December 31, 2022 from Nichols Ranch. Until such time when market conditions improve sufficiently, suitable term sales contracts can be procured, or the U.S. Uranium Reserve Program is expanded, the Company expects to maintain the Nichols Ranch Project on standby and defer development of further wellfields and header houses. The Company currently holds 34 fully permitted, undeveloped wellfields at Nichols Ranch, including four additional wellfields at the Nichols Ranch wellfields, 22 wellfields at the adjacent Jane Dough wellfields, and eight wellfields at the Hank Project, which is fully permitted to be constructed as a satellite facility to the Nichols Ranch Plant. The Company expects to continue to keep the Alta Mesa Project on standby until such time that market conditions improve sufficiently, suitable term sales contracts can be procured, or the U.S. Uranium Reserve Program is expanded.
Conventional Activities
Conventional Extraction and Recovery Activities
During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Mill did not package any material quantities of U3O8, focusing instead on developing its REE recovery business. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Mill produced approximately 205 tonnes of partially separated RE Carbonate, containing approximately 95 tonnes of high value partially separated TREO. The Mill recovered small quantities of uranium during the Quarter, which were retained in circuit. During 2022, the Company expects to recover 130,000 to 140,000 pounds of uranium at the Mill as finished product. The Company expects to recover approximately 205 tonnes of partially separated RE Carbonate (equivalent to approximately 277 tonnes of non-separated RE Carbonate) containing approximately 95 tonnes of high value partially separated TREO (equivalent to approximately 128 tonnes of non-separated TREO) at the Mill during 2022. The Company expects to sell all or a portion of its mixed RE Carbonate to Neo Performance Materials (“Neo“) or other global separation facilities and/or to stockpile it for future production of separated REE oxides at the Mill or elsewhere. The Company is in advanced discussions with several sources of natural monazite sands (in addition to the Bahia Project) to secure additional supplies of monazite sands, which if successful, would be expected to allow the Company to increase RE Carbonate production.
In addition to its 760,000 pounds of finished uranium inventories currently located at North American conversion facilities and at the Mill (692,000 pounds as of September 30, 2022 plus 68,552 pounds acquired after quarter end) and the 130,000 to 140,000 pounds of U3O8 expected to be produced in 2022, the Company has approximately 170,000 pounds of U3O8 contained in stockpiled Alternate Feed Materials and other ore inventory at the Mill that can be recovered relatively quickly in the future, as general market conditions may warrant (totaling about 1,060,000 to 1,070,000 pounds of U3O8 of total uranium inventory). The Company is also seeking to acquire additional ore inventory from third party mine cleanup activities that can be recovered relatively quickly in the future.
The Company currently holds approximately 987,000 pounds of V2O5 in inventory, and there remains an estimated 1.0 to 3.0 million pounds of additional solubilized recoverable V2O5 remaining in tailings solutions awaiting future recovery, as market conditions may warrant.
Conventional Standby, Permitting and Evaluation Activities
During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, standby and environmental compliance activities continued at the fully permitted and substantially developed Pinyon Plain Project (uranium and, potentially, copper) and the fully permitted and developed La Sal Complex (uranium and vanadium). The Company increased its number of employees, and continued carrying out engineering, procurement and construction management activities, at its Pinyon Plain Project during the Quarter. The timing of the Company’s plans to extract and process mineralized materials from these projects will be based on sustained improvements in general market conditions, procurement of suitable sales contracts and/or the expansion of the U.S. Uranium Reserve Program.
The Company is selectively advancing certain permits at its other major conventional uranium projects, such as the Roca Honda Project, which is a large, high-grade conventional project in New Mexico. The Company is also continuing to maintain required permits at its conventional projects, including the Whirlwind Project, which is now in the process of recommencing mining operations, and the Sheep Mountain Project. In addition, the Company will continue to evaluate the Bullfrog Project. Expenditures for certain of these projects have been adjusted to coincide with expected dates of price recoveries based on the Company’s forecasts. All of these projects serve as important pipeline assets for the Company’s future conventional production capabilities, as market conditions may warrant.
Uranium Sales
During the three months ended September 30, 2022, the Company did not enter into any new uranium sales contracts, having just recently entered into three uranium sale and purchase agreements with major U.S. utilities in May 2022, constituting its first new long-term supply contracts since 2018. Having observed a marked uptick in interest from nuclear utilities seeking long-term uranium supply, the Company remains actively engaged in pursuing additional selective long-term uranium sales contracts. The Company submitted an offer to sell a portion of its inventories currently located at the ConverDyn conversion facility to the DOE’s newly created U.S. Uranium Reserve Program. If the offer is accepted, the Company may complete some sales of uranium during 2022.
Vanadium Sales
As a result of strengthening vanadium markets, during the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company sold approximately 642,000 pounds of the Company’s existing inventory of V2O5 (as FeV) at a net weighted average price of $13.69 per pound of V2O5. The Company expects to sell its remaining finished vanadium product when justified into the metallurgical industry, as well as other markets that demand a higher purity product, including the aerospace, chemical, and potentially the vanadium battery industries. The Company expects to sell to a diverse group of customers in order to maximize revenues and profits. The vanadium produced in the 2018/19 Pond Return campaign was a high-purity vanadium product of 99.6%-99.7% V2O5. The Company believes there may be opportunities to sell certain quantities of this high-purity material at a premium to reported spot prices. The Company may also retain vanadium product in inventory for future sale, depending on vanadium spot prices and general market conditions.
RE Carbonate Sales
The Company commenced its ramp-up to commercial production of a mixed RE Carbonate in March 2021 and has shipped all of its RE Carbonate produced to-date to Neo’s Silmet facility in Estonia, where it is currently being fed into their separation process. All RE Carbonate produced at the Mill in 2022 is expected to be sold to Neo for separation at Silmet. Until such time as the Company expects to permit and construct its own separation circuits at the Mill, production in future years is expected to be sold to Neo for separation at Silmet and, potentially, to other REE separation facilities outside of the U.S. To the extent not sold, the Company expects to stockpile mixed RE Carbonate at the Mill for future separation and other downstream REE processing at the Mill or elsewhere. During the quarter ended September 30, 2022, the Company sold approximately 89,000 kilograms of TREO at an average price of $25.03 per kilogram of TREO.
While the Company continues to ramp up its mixed RE Carbonate production and additional funds are spent on process enhancements, improving recoveries, product quality and other optimization, profits from this initiative are expected to be minimal until such time when monazite throughput rates are increased and optimized. However, even at the current throughput rates, the Company is recovering most of its direct costs of this growing initiative, with the other costs associated with ramping up production, process enhancements and evaluating future separation capabilities at the Mill being expensed as underutilized capacity production costs applicable to RE Carbonate and development expenditures. Throughout this process, the Company is gaining important knowledge, experience and technical information, all of which will be valuable for current and future mixed RE Carbonate production and expected future production of separated REE oxides and other advanced REE materials at the Mill. As discussed above, the Company is planning to install a “light” separation circuit within existing Mill facilities and is evaluating installing a separate crack and leach circuit and full separation circuit at the Mill to produce both “light” and “heavy” separated REE oxides in the coming years, subject to successful licensing, financing, and commissioning and continued strong market conditions.
About Energy Fuels: Energy Fuels is a leading U.S.-based uranium mining company, supplying U3O8 to major nuclear utilities. The Company also produces vanadium from certain of its projects, as market conditions warrant, and is ramping up to full commercial-scale production of RE 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 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, and has the ability to produce vanadium when market conditions warrant, as well as RE Carbonate from various uranium-bearing ores. The Nichols Ranch ISR Project is currently on standby and has a licensed capacity of 2 million pounds of U3O8 per year. The Alta Mesa ISR Project is also currently 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 S-K 1300 and 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.
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: production and sales forecasts; costs of production; any expectation that the Company will be awarded any sales under the U.S. Uranium Reserve; scalability, and the Company’s ability and readiness to re-start, expand or deploy any of its existing projects or capacity to respond to any improvements in uranium market conditions or in response to the Uranium Reserve; any expectation as to future uranium, vanadium, RE Carbonate or REE market fundamentals or sales; any expectation as to recommencement of production at any of the Company’s uranium mines or the timing thereof; any expectation regarding any remaining dissolved vanadium in the Mill’s tailings facility solutions or the ability of the Company to recover any such vanadium at acceptable costs or at all; any expectation as to the ability of the Company to secure any new sources of Alternate Feed Materials or other processing opportunities at the Mill; any expectation as to timelines for the permitting and development of projects; any expectation as to longer term fundamentals in the market and price projections; any expectation as to the implications of the current Russian invasion of Ukraine on uranium, vanadium or other commodity markets; any expectation that the Company will maintain its position as a leading uranium company in the United States; any expectation with respect to timelines to production; any expectation that the Mill will be successful in producing RE Carbonate on a full-scale commercial basis; any expectation that Neo will be successful in separating the Mill’s RE Carbonate on a commercial basis; any expectation that Energy Fuels will be successful in developing U.S. separation, or other value-added U.S. REE production capabilities at the Mill, or otherwise, including the timing of any such initiatives and the expected production capacity or capital and operating costs associated with any such production capabilities; any expectation that the Company will restore U.S. rare earth separation capabilities in the coming years; any expectation with respect to the future demand for REEs; any expectation with respect to the quantities of monazite sands to be acquired by Energy Fuels, the quantities of RE Carbonate to be produced by the Mill or the quantities of contained TREO in the Mill’s RE Carbonate; any expectation that any additional supplies of monazite sands will result in sufficient throughput at the Mill to reduce underutilized capacity production costs and allow the Company to realize its expected margins on a continuous basis; any expectation that the Company may sell its separated NdPr oxide (or oxalate) to major electric vehicle manufacturers in the U.S. and Europe or that the Company may position itself as one of the “go to” suppliers of advanced rare earth materials in the U.S.; any expectation that the Bahia Project has the potential to feed the Mill with REE and uranium-bearing monazite sand for decades; any expectation that the Company will complete comprehensive sonic drilling and geophysical mapping at the Bahia Project or complete an Initial Assessment under SK-1300 (U.S.) and a Technical Report Technical Report under NI 43-101 (Canada) during Q4-2023 or Q1-2024, or otherwise; any expectation that the Company’s evaluation of thorium and radium recovery at the Mill will be successful; any expectation that the potential recovery of medical isotopes from any thorium or radium recovered at the Mill will be feasible; any expectation that any thorium, radium or other isotopes can be recovered at the Mill and sold on a commercial basis; any expectation as to the quantities to be delivered under existing uranium sales contracts, or that such contracts may help underpin the Company’s uranium business for many years to come; any expectation that the Company will be successful in completing any additional contracts for the sale of uranium to U.S. utilities; any expectation that any existing or potential future uranium sales contracts will be at prices and quantities that provide an appropriate rate of return or sustain production and cover corporate overhead; any expectation that the value of the Company’s investments accounted for at fair value may improve in future periods; and any expectation that the Company will generate net income in future periods. 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; processing and mining difficulties, upsets and delays; permitting and licensing requirements and delays; changes to regulatory requirements; legal challenges; the availability of sources of Alternate Feed Materials and other feed sources for the Mill; competition from other producers; public opinion; government and political actions; available supplies of monazite sands; the ability of the Mill to produce RE Carbonate to meet commercial specifications on a commercial scale at acceptable costs; the ability of Neo to separate the RE Carbonate produced by the Mill to meet commercial specifications on a commercial scale at acceptable costs; market factors, including future demand for REEs; 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.
SOURCE Energy Fuels Inc.
For further information: Investor Inquiries: Energy Fuels Inc., Curtis Moore, VP – Marketing and Corporate Development, (303) 974-2140 or Toll free: (888) 864-2125, investorinfo@energyfuels.com, www.energyfuels.com
