IsoEnergy has strategically decided to reopen underground access at its Tony M uranium mine in southwestern Utah in the first half of 2024, with the goal of restarting production next year.
The decision to advance the mine is underpinned by rising uranium prices, increasing support and demand for nuclear energy, and Energy Fuels restart of its uranium circuit at the White Mesa Mill – the only operational conventional uranium mill in the U.S. IsoEnergy has a toll milling agreement with Energy Fuels for its Tony M, Daneros, Rim and Calliham projects, which guarantees access to the White Mesa Mill.
“With the uranium spot price now trading around US$100 per pound, we are in the very fortunate position of owning multiple, past-producing, fully-permitted uranium mines in the U.S. that we believe can be restarted quickly with relatively low capital costs. Our existing toll milling agreement with Energy Fuels places IsoEnergy in a unique position to become a conventional uranium producer in the near-term,” said IsoEnergy CEO and Director Phil Williams.
Reopening the main decline into Tony M will allow the miner to assess underground conditions, enable direct analysis of the uranium mineralization in place, and allow for the collection of necessary data required to prepare an efficient mine plan. The work program also includes underground and surface geological mapping.
IsoEnergy expects to utilize contract mining initially. In addition to the 18 miles of underground development, including multiple production headings, the mine has complete surface infrastructure in place.
Tony M is a large-scale, fully-developed and permitted underground mine that previously produced nearly 1 million pounds of U3O8 during two different periods of operation, from 1979-1984 and from 2007-2008. It is located in eastern Garfield County.