LITTLETON, Colo., April 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/
-- Ur-Energy Inc. (NYSE American:URG, TSX:URE) (the "Company" or "Ur-Energy") is pleased to provide the
following operational results for first quarter 2018.
Highlights
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Lost Creek Operations
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Units
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2018 Q1
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2017 Q4
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U3O8 Captured
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('000 lbs)
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84.0
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68.0
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U3O8 Dried & Drummed
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('000 lbs)
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80.0
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60.5
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U3O8 Sold
(from production)
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('000 lbs)
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10.0
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0.0
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U3O8 Sold (from purchased lbs)
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('000 lbs)
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370.0
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0.0
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Average Flow Rate
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(gpm)
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2,432
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2,244
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U3O8 Head Grade
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(mg/l)
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33
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29
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Lost Creek Uranium Production and Sales
For the quarter, 84,047 pounds of U3O8 were captured within the Lost Creek plant, 79,961 pounds
of U3O8 were packaged in drums and 73,515 pounds of U3O8 drummed inventory were
shipped out of the Lost Creek processing plant. At March 31, 2018, inventory at the conversion
facility was approximately 159,296 pounds U3O8.
During the quarter, sales totaled $19.7 million on 380,000 pounds at an average price of
$51.75 per pound, which was 140% above the average spot price for the same period of $21.52 per pound. We sold 10,000 pounds of Lost Creek production into a spot sale at $23.75 per pound. The remaining 370,000 pounds were purchased at an average cost of $25.00 per pound and sold into term contracts at $52.50 per pound. The purchase
contracts were entered into at various times and purchase prices ranged from $22.25 to $26.55 per pound. The small sale from production was done for tax purposes.
During the period, the second of the first three header houses in the second mine unit (MU2) at Lost Creek commenced
production. The third of these houses will come online this month. With the addition of MU2 production, both grades and flow
levels have continued to increase. Currently, more than four and a half years into production, Lost Creek
U3O8 head grade has averaged 85.7 mg/l, life-of-project.
Corporate and Management Update
In January, together with Energy Fuels, we submitted a petition to the U.S. Department of Commerce ("DOC") for Relief
Under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (as amended) from Imports of Uranium Products that Threaten National
Security (the "Petition"). The Petition seeks an investigation as required under the Trade Act, as well as suggesting relief
which might be implemented. We currently await the initiation of the investigation by the DOC.
As previously disclosed, we implemented our current plan for 2018 Lost Creek operations: we have suspended further MU2
development activities, implemented further cost reductions, including an additional reduction in force, and secured purchase
contracts for nearly 100% of our 2018 delivery obligations. Production from our operating MU1 and MU2 header houses will be used
to build an inventory position of finished, ready-to-sell, product at the conversion facility. These actions will give us the
additional flexibility necessary to quickly react to changing market conditions and easily restart development activities in MU2
when warranted. With future development and construction in mind, the staff who were retained have the greatest level of
experience and adaptability allowing for an easier transition back to full operations.
The quarter saw the retirement of one of the founding members of our Board of Directors, Paul
Macdonell. Mr. Macdonell served our Company and its shareholders well for 14 years, helping to position us as a leader in
the uranium space. Rob Chang has been named to our Board, effective March
30, 2018. Mr. Chang has 23 years experience in the financial services industry. He is currently the Chief Financial
Officer of Riot Blockchain, Inc. Prior to his current position, Mr. Chang most recently served as the Managing Director and Head
of Metals & Mining at Cantor Fitzgerald where he provided research coverage in precious metals, base metals, lithium, and
uranium. He is well familiar with the uranium mining industry, and is considered a subject matter expert by several media
outlets. Mr. Chang completed his MBA at the University of Toronto's Rotman
School of Management.
Continuing Guidance for 2018
As included in our prior guidance, we expect to deliver a total of 470,000 pounds into our term contracts in 2018 at
an average price of approximately $49 per pound. The remaining 100,000 pounds will be delivered in
Q2 2018. We will provide further guidance in our Form 10-Q, which is currently anticipated to be filed on Friday, May 4, 2018.
About Ur-Energy
Ur-Energy is a uranium mining company operating the Lost Creek in-situ recovery uranium facility in
south-central Wyoming. We have produced, packaged and shipped more than two million pounds from
Lost Creek since the commencement of operations. Applications are under review by various agencies to incorporate our LC East
project area into the Lost Creek permits, and we have begun to submit applications for permits and licenses to operate at our
Shirley Basin Project. Ur-Energy is engaged in uranium mining, recovery and processing activities, including the acquisition,
exploration, development and operation of uranium mineral properties in the United States.
Shares of Ur‑Energy trade on the NYSE American under the symbol "URG" and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "URE."
Ur-Energy's corporate office is in Littleton, Colorado; its registered office is in Ottawa, Ontario. Ur-Energy's website is www.ur-energy.com.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
Jeffrey Klenda, Chair and CEO
+1 720-981-4588
Jeff.Klenda@Ur-Energy.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws regarding
events or conditions that may occur in the future (e.g., continuing results of Lost Creek operations and deliveries into
sales commitments; recovery results from additional header houses in MU2 at Lost Creek, as well as timing to bring the third
house online; the outcome of the DOC Section 232 investigation, including whether or not the Secretary of Commerce will make a
recommendation to the President and the nature of the recommendation; whether or not the President will act on the recommendation
and, if so, the nature of the action and remedy) and are based on current expectations that, while considered reasonable by
management at this time, inherently involve a number of significant business, economic and competitive risks, uncertainties and
contingencies. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements include, but are
not limited to, fluctuations in commodity prices; capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates; failure to
establish estimated resources and reserves; the grade and recovery of uranium which is mined varying from estimates; production
rates, methods and amounts varying from estimates; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental
or other project approvals; inflation; delays in development and other factors described in the public filings made by the
Company at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The
forward-looking statements contained herein are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date
hereof and Ur-Energy disclaims any intent or obligation to update them or revise them to reflect any change in circumstances or
in management's beliefs, expectations or opinions that occur in the future.
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SOURCE Ur-Energy Inc.