US-based enCore Energy has announced plans to resume uranium production from its Alta Mesa processing plant, in South Texas, in early 2024.
This will be the company’s second producing location following the resumption of uranium production at the South Texas Rosita uranium processing plant, scheduled for 2023.
enCore last month closed the acquisition of Alta Mesa from Energy Fuels.
Alta Mesa has a total operating capacity of 1.5-million pounds a year of uranium oxide. The operation produced nearly five-million pounds a year of uranium oxide between 2005 and 2013, when full production was curtailed as a result of low uranium prices at the time.
"My previous experience includes building and successfully operating Alta Mesa. I am confident that we have everything necessary within our control for a production restart, and enCore can quickly advance the project,” said CEO Paul Goranson.
The enCore team began initial assessment work in November 2022, preparing for the start of work immediately following the closing of the acquisition of the Alta Mesa processing plant and project.
The company said the plant could reach commercial production levels with limited required capital, from funds on hand, within an estimated ten months of the production decision.
“It is an exciting time at enCore. Our 2023 startup of production at Rosita and now the decision to proceed at Alta Mesa, will bring a reliable domestic low carbon energy source to South Texas and the United States when it is most needed,” said Goranson.
Alta Mesa uses in-situ recovery technology to extract uranium in a non-invasive process through the use of natural groundwater and oxygen, coupled with a proven ion exchange process, to recover the uranium.