Energy Fuels Applauds $75 Million Launch of the U.S. Uranium Reserve in Bipartisan 2021 Omnibus Spending Bill
LAKEWOOD, Colo., Dec. 22, 2020 /CNW/ - Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR) ("Energy Fuels" or the "Company"), the largest uranium miner in the U.S., applauds the bipartisan, bicameral launch of the U.S. uranium reserve, as $75 million of funding was included in the omnibus appropriation bill passed by both houses of Congress last night. Appropriating funding for a U.S. uranium reserve was one of the main recommendations of the U.S. Nuclear Fuel Working Group, which was directed to make recommendations on securing the domestic capacity to produce uranium and nuclear fuel. This key funding opens the door for the U.S. government to purchase domestically-produced uranium to guard against potential commercial and national security risks presented by our country's near-total reliance on foreign imports of uranium. The bill is expected to be sent to the President for signature in the coming days.
Energy Fuels has been the number one uranium miner in the U.S. since 2017, and the projects the Company now owns and operates have produced roughly one-third of all uranium mined in the U.S. since 2006, ranking second among all U.S. uranium producers during that period. Energy Fuels holds three (3) of the most productive uranium facilities in the U.S., which together have a combined licensed capacity to produce over 11.5 million pounds of uranium per year. This includes the White Mesa Mill, located in southeast Utah, which is the only conventional uranium mill operating in the U.S. today, along with the Nichols Ranch and Alta Mesa in situ recovery ("ISR") facilities, located in Wyoming and Texas respectively, both of which are on standby. The Company is therefore in an unmatched position and stands ready to supply uranium for the reserve.
Mark S. Chalmers, President and CEO of Energy Fuels stated: "Energy Fuels extends our gratitude to Congress and the Administration for working together on a bipartisan basis to appropriate these funds in 2021 for the creation of a U.S. uranium reserve. We are extremely pleased to see members on both sides of the aisle support a healthy domestic uranium industry, so America cannot be held hostage by foreign adversaries like Russia for the fuel needed to generate clean, carbon-free nuclear energy. This funding also has the potential to create good-paying jobs and economic opportunity for under-served areas of Wyoming, Texas and Utah. We wish to extend a particular thank you to Wyoming Senator John Barrasso, a tireless champion for the U.S. uranium industry and a true advocate for ending America's dependence on foreign adversaries for the critical minerals we need today.
"Creation of a uranium reserve is truly a milestone for our industry, and $75 million will go a long way toward reviving and expanding the domestic production of nuclear fuel in 2021 and beyond. We look forward to working with the U.S. Department of Energy to make sure this funding is spent wisely to support existing infrastructure by purchasing uranium from existing, proven uranium facilities.
"Our White Mesa Mill in Utah is a clean energy and critical minerals hub, a concept that goes much farther than simply mining and producing uranium. Any funds used through a Department of Energy program to purchase uranium from the White Mesa Mill can have a 'multiplier effect', by not only supporting the domestic uranium mining industry, but also by advancing other important clean energy priorities, including rare earth production, abandoned mine cleanup and supporting Native American communities.
"Energy Fuels, and particularly our White Mesa Mill, is one of the best untold clean energy stories in the U.S. today. The U.S. uranium reserve can help revive domestic uranium production, while also accelerating other important initiatives that play a part in making the world a cleaner and healthier place."
bg bh
wo ich sehr spät die reisleine gezogen habe...