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TSX.V:EU $5.44 |
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TSX.V:EU $5.44 |
NASDAQ:EU $4.08
South Texas ISR Uranium Central Processing Plants & Wellfields
Rosita, Alta Mesa, Kingsville Dome, and Other Texas Assets
South Texas Operation Highlights
Rosita and Alta Mesa Central Processing Plants currently operating. A third CPP, Kingsville Dome, is fully permitted and on standby.
All operations utilize In- Situ Recovery (“ISR”) technology and are capable of multiple regional satellite feeds.
Texas is the most progressive permitting and production jurisdiction in the US.
Operation expansion potential with minimal investment.
enCore owns and controls 3 of the 4 licensed ISR uranium plants in Texas, a known and safe ISR uranium jurisdiction. There are currently 11 licensed ISR plants in the United States.
About
Currently, enCore Energy is the only United States uranium processing company with multiple production facilities in operation. enCore is focused on processing domestic uranium utilizing the proven In-Situ Recovery technology (“ISR”) to provide necessary fuel for the generation of clean, reliable, and carbon-free nuclear energy.
enCore owns and operates three of the four licensed uranium processing facilities in Texas, with two of these currently in operation. Each of the facilities are fully licensed and constructed, 100%-owned, and are past-operating uranium processing facilities in Texas, a known and safe ISR uranium jurisdiction. There are currently only 11 licensed ISR plants in the United States.
enCore’s operational plan, now underway, is to extract uranium derived from multiple remote Satellite IX operations, in turn to be processed at one of our Central Processing Plants (“CPP”). enCore’s three CPPs are strategically located in north-central, central, and southern portions of south Texas.
Central Processing Plants & Wellfields
Rosita CPP & Wellfield
Alta Mesa CPP & Wellfield
Kingsville Dome CPP & Wellfield
Rosita CPP & Wellfield
Rosita ISR Uranium Central Processing Plant and Wellfield
Location
The Rosita CPP is located approximately 60 miles west of Corpus Christi, Texas in the Texas Uranium Belt and lies adjacent to, or nearby, to over 2,700 acres of mineral rights, including plant and wellfield facilities
Production
A fully licensed CPP with a production capacity of 800,000 pounds of U3O8 per year; expandable under existing license.
Status
Now in production as of November 2023
The Rosita In-Situ Recovery (“ISR”) Uranium Central Processing Plant (“CPP”) and Wellfield commenced production as of November 2023. The Rosita CPP is located on a 270-acre surface tract, 100% owned by enCore, located central to the mining lease area. The Rosita CPP will receive uranium-loaded resins from various remote south Texas projects and satellite wellfields.
Initial production of uranium from the Rosita CPP, commenced in 1990 and continued until July 1999. During that time, 2.65 million pounds of U3O8 were produced. It was originally designed and constructed to operate as an up-flow ion exchange facility, in a similar manner to the Kingsville Dome CPP. Resin was processed at the Rosita CPP, and the recovered uranium was precipitated into slurry, which was then transported to Kingsville Dome for final drying and packaging. Production was halted in July of 1999 due to depressed uranium prices, and it resumed in June 2008. Technical difficulties, coupled with a sharp decline in uranium prices, led to the decision to suspend production activities in October 2008. No production has occurred at the Rosita CPP and Wellfield since that time, until 2023.
During 2007-2008, upgrades were made to the processing equipment and additions to the facility were installed, including revisions to the elution and precipitation circuits, and the addition of a full drying system. Construction terminated when the plant was 95% complete due to production and price declines. The current plant is designed to have an operating capacity of 800,000 pounds of U3O8 per year when production commences. One satellite ion exchange system is in place at the Rosita Wellfield, but it only operated for a short period of time in 2008. A second satellite ion exchange system will be constructed to accommodate expected production from the wellfield that is currently under construction. On November 1, 2022, the Company announced that it had completed the refurbishment of the Rosita CPP. In April 2023, the wellfield for Rosita Extension was completed, and the installation of the surface and electrical infrastructure commenced. In May 2023, construction commenced of the 1,000 GPM satellite IX system to service the Rosita Extension wellfield. The construction of the surface infrastructure, including pipelines, oxygen supply, manifolds, metering, and electrical connections continued through the third quarter. In November 2023, the Company announced the successful startup of uranium production from the Rosita CPP.
Uranium mineralization at the Rosita Wellfield occurs as roll-fronts hosted in porous and permeable sandstones of the Goliad Formation, at depths ranging from 125 to 350 feet below the surface. Additional potential for roll-front mineralization exists between 500 and 700 feet in the Oakville Formation and is the subject of current exploration efforts.
Satellite Operation for the Rosita CPP and Wellfield
Rosita Project Extension, South Texas – The Company has advanced wellfield development within the Rosita Project radioactive materials license and injection permit boundaries. The Company completed the installation of production patterns in the production area, followed quickly by the installation of the necessary infrastructure to operate with a satellite IX system. Production commenced in November 2023.
Rosita South Project, South Texas – The Rosita South Project is adjacent to the Rosita CPP and provides one of the most optimal sources of satellite feed for the Rosita CPP. Thirty-two drill holes were reported for a total of approximately 11,000 feet including twenty delineation drill holes and twelve deep exploration drill holes. The exploration drilling has identified eight mineralized sands plus an additional four potentially mineralized sands, all within 800 feet of the surface, which provide opportunities for discovery of future uranium resources.
Butler Ranch Wellfield, Karnes Couty, Texas – enCore acquired the Butler Ranch Wellfield from Rio Grande Resources in 2014, as part of a larger property exchange. The property is comprised of non-contiguous fee leases that cover an area of about 438 acres of mineral rights. The Wellfield is in the southwestern end of Karnes County, Texas, about 45 miles southeast of the city of San Antonio, and 12 miles northwest of the town of Kenedy. The Wellfield is situated in the southwestern end of the Karnes County uranium mining district, which was one of the largest uranium production areas in Texas.
Uranium mineralization at Butler Ranch occurs in the form of roll-front deposits hosted primarily in sandstones of the Jackson Group, including the Deweesville and Stones Switch sandstone members of the Whitsett Formation. Some mineralization in the area also occurs as tabular bodies associated with lignite (carbonaceous material) or in somewhat permeable units in the Conquista Clay.
Butler Ranch Project, South Texas – The Project is comprised of non-contiguous fee leases that cover an area of about 438 acres of mineral rights. The Project is situated in the southwestern end of the Karnes County uranium mining district, one of the largest uranium production areas in Texas. Upper Spring Creek Project, South Texas – The Upper Spring Creek Project is currently comprised of noncontiguous and contiguous fee leases that cover an area of approximately 510 acres of surface and mineral rights.
Upper Spring Creek Project, Live Oak and Bee Counties, Texas -The Company acquired several mineral properties located in South Texas, within the area generally described as the Upper Spring Creek Project (USC) area. The Project is currently comprised of two distinct areas: USC-Brown Area (Live Oak County) and USC Brevard Area (Live Oak and Bee Counties). The USC-Brown Area Project is currently comprised of both Company-owned properties and both non-contiguous and contiguous fee leases that cover an area of approximately 510 acres of surface and mineral rights, and the Company is actively acquiring additional mineral properties for this Project. The USC Brevard Area is currently comprised of a single lease of approximately 274 acres of surface and mineral rights. As with USC Brown Area, the Company is actively acquiring additional mineral properties for this Project. These properties are intended to be developed as satellite ion-exchange plants that will provide loaded resin to the Rosita CPP.
The Company advises that it is not basing its production decisions at Alta Mesa CPP or Rosita CPP on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. The production decision is based on known past In-Situ Recovery (ISR) and processing operations at these two production facilities and surrounding lands. However, the Company understands that there is increased uncertainty, and consequently a higher risk of failure, when production is undertaken in advance of a feasibility study. The Company has determined to proceed with a production decision based on past operations at the Alta Mesa CPP and Rosita CPP, including past ISR operations in the known mineral resource areas.
Alta Mesa CPP & Wellfield
Alta Mesa ISR Uranium Central Processing Plant and Wellfield
Location
Located 80 miles from the Rosita CPP and 75 miles from the Kingsville Dome CPP
Production
Total operating capacity is 1.5 million lbs. per year with an additional drying capacity of 0.5 million lbs.
Status
Now in production as of June 2024. Goal of achieving full operational capacity by 2026, utilizing Wellfield 7 and Wellfield 8.
The Alta Mesa Project hosts a fully licensed and constructed Central Processing Plant (“CPP”) and operational wellfield located on 200,000+ acres of private land and mineral rights in and regulated by the state of Texas. Only 5% of the project area has been explored with 52 linear miles of stacked uranium roll fronts identified; only 5 miles of which have been explored to date. The Alta Mesa Project operates under a 70/30 joint venture with Boss Energy Limited that is managed by enCore Energy Corp.
Total operating capacity at the Alta Mesa CPP is 1.5 million lbs. U3O8 (uranium) per year with an additional drying capacity of 0.5 million lbs. The Alta Mesa CPP historically produced nearly 5 million lbs. of uranium between 2005 and 2013 when production was curtailed as a result of low prices. The Alta Mesa Project utilizes well-known ISR technology to extract uranium in a non-invasive process using natural groundwater and oxygen
Our strategy at Alta Mesa is to initiate phased ramp-up from Wellfield 7, increasing production progressively and consistently as additional injection and recovery wells are systematically tied into the production lines. As we continue to increase production from Wellfield 7, work has commenced on Wellfield 8 with a goal of achieving full operational capacity by 2026.
Alta Mesa is now nearing flow capacity at the first of the CPP’s three ion exchange circuits (“IX circuits”). The three IX circuits can provide dissolved uranium in groundwater to the Alta Mesa CPP from multiple wellfields simultaneously and each have 2,500 gallons per minute (“gpm”) capacity. The first IX circuit was commissioned in June 2024, with the second IX circuit planned to commence operation in Q1/25 and the third IX circuit planned to be online by year end of 2025. Ion exchange is a filtration system which removes liquid uranium from groundwater before it is dried and processed into U3O8 at the CPP
Alta Mesa and Mesteña Grande Wellfields
- The Alta Mesa Wellfield is an established In-Situ recovery (“ISR”) uranium project and a past uranium producer. The Alta Mesa Wellfield is located within a portion of the private land holdings of the Jones Ranch, founded in 1897, and includes surface and mineral rights as well as oil and gas and other minerals including uranium. The CPP and mine office are located at the Alta Mesa property approximately 11 miles west of the intersection of US 281 and Ranch Road 755, which is also 22 miles south of the town of Falfurrias. The Mesteña Grande Wellfield is comprised of multiple prospective areas.
- Alta Mesa CPP and wellfield operations are located on 200,000+ acres of private land and mineral rights in and regulated by the state of Texas. Only 5% of the project area has been explored having already identified 52 linear miles of stacked uranium, roll fronts; only 5 miles of the roll fronts have been explored to date.
- Uranium mineralization at both the Alta Mesa and Mesteña Grande Wellfield locations occurs locally as roll-front deposits hosted in porous and permeable sandstones of the Goliad Formation, at depths ranging from 300 to 600 feet beneath the surface. Significant additional potential exists regionally within the wellfield boundary within the Goliad Formation at depths between 400 and 500 feet, within the Oakville Formation at depths between 1050 and 1300 feet, and within the Catahoula at depths between 450 and 600 feet.
- Production has resumed in Wellfield 7 and drilling and completion of wells is underway at Wellfield 8 along with the necessary surface infrastructure.
- The wellfield produced 4.6 million pounds of uranium oxide between 2005 and 2013 via ISR technology.
- The Alta Mesa and Mesteña Grande Wellfield areas include uranium mineral-bearing sandstones of the Goliad, Oakville, and Catahoula Formations- contained within approximately 52 linear miles of stacked geochemical REDOX and mineralized fronts. Only 5 miles of mineralized trends have been closely drilled out to date. The Alta Mesa Wellfield is located in Brooks County while the majority of the Mesteña Grande Wellfields are located in Jim Hogg County, Texas.
Alta Mesa and Mesteña Grande – | ||||
| Resource Category | Tons (‘000) | Grade (%U3O8) | Contained U3O8 (‘000 lbs) | |
| Within existing wellfields | Measured | 54 | 0.152 | 164 |
| Alta Mesa | Indicated | 1,397 | 0.106 | 2,959 |
| Mesteña Grande | Indicated | 119 | 0.120 | 287 |
| Total M&I Mineral Resources | 1,570 | 0.109 | 3,410 | |
| Alta Mesa | Inferred | 1,263 | 0.126 | 3,192 |
| Mesteña Grande | Inferred | 5,733 | 0.119 | 13,601 |
| Total Inferred Mineral Resource | 6,996 | 0.120 | 16,793 | |
The Company advises that it is not basing its production decisions at Alta Mesa CPP or Rosita CPP on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. The production decision is based on known past In-Situ Recovery (ISR) and processing operations at these two production facilities and surrounding lands. However, the Company understands that there is increased uncertainty, and consequently a higher risk of failure, when production is undertaken in advance of a feasibility study. The Company has determined to proceed with a production decision based on past operations at the Alta Mesa CPP and Rosita CPP, including past ISR operations in the known mineral resource areas.
Kingsville Dome CPP & Wellfield
Kingsville Dome ISR Uranium Central Processing Plant and Wellfield
Location
40 miles southwest of the city of Corpus Christi in Kleberg County, Texas
Production
Production capacity of 800,000 pounds of U3O8 per year
Status
Uranium production at Kingsville Dome was suspended in 2009 and the CPP has been in a standby status since that time.
The Kingsville Dome ISR Uranium Central Processing Plant (CPP) and Wellfield is comprised of multiple tracts of land leased from third parties. The Kingsville Dome CPP is situated on approximately 15 acres of Company-owned land, surrounded by leased acreage located approximately eight miles southeast of the city of Kingsville. The CPP & Wellfield was constructed in 1987 as an up-flow uranium ion exchange circuit, with complete drying and packaging facilities within the recovery plant. The CPP & Wellfield produced uranium between 1988 and 1990, from 1996 to 1999, and most recently from 2007 through 2009. Two independent resin processing circuits and elution systems comprise the plant’s processing equipment, along with a single drying circuit.
The CPP has two 500 gallon per minute reverse osmosis systems for groundwater restoration. The first unit was idled in 2010 and the second unit was idled in January of 2014, when groundwater restoration was completed. The CPP can serve as a processing facility that can accept resin from multiple satellite facilities. In addition to the CPP, there are four satellite ion exchange systems in the wellfield area. Each of the satellite systems is capable of processing approximately 900 gallons per minute of uranium-bearing ISR fluids from well fields, and these satellite plants can be relocated to alternate extraction sites as needed.
Satellite Operations for the Kingsville Dome CPP and Wellfield
Vasquez Wellfield, Texas – The Vasquez Wellfield is located in southern Duval County, Texas, a short distance northwest of the town of Hebbronville. The project operated from 2004 through 2008 as a satellite plant operation to the Kingsville Dome CPP until the mineral resource was depleted and reclamation commenced. The Wellfield is situated on a leased tract of land that is being held until final restoration has been completed. The Vasquez property consists of a mineral lease of 1,023 gross and net acres. While the primary term of the mineral lease expired in February 2008, the Company continues to hold the lease by carrying out restoration activities.
