26 April 2024  

Tiris Uranium Project, Mauritania

The Tiris Uranium Project, Mauritania, is a potential near-term, low-cost, long-life future uranium mine producing 2Mlbs pa U₃O₈ over the currently defined 17-year mine life with production expected to commence in 2026. 

During the quarter activities continued to progress Tiris towards a Final Investment Decision ("FID") and ultimately development of Mauritania's first uranium mine, including:

·    Completion of the Front End Engineering Design ("FEED") study

·    Exploration drilling to expand Mineral Resources beyond the current 59Mlbs U₃O₈[5]

·    Trial mining, trenching and variability sampling over Hippolyte

Tiris Uranium Project Front End Engineering Design Study

The FEED study was completed during the quarter and demonstrated Tiris to have the potential be a near-term, low-cost, long-life mine with exceptional further growth opportunities. The study also demonstrated the Project's excellent economics.

Key highlights and outcomes of the FEED Study[6]:

The FEED study progressed the design of the processing plant and infrastructure to enable a detailed capital and operating cost estimate to be prepared, with an accuracy level of between +10% and 15%.

•     Robust base case project financial economics demonstrated by post-tax NPV₈ of US$366M (A$523M) IRR of 34%, and a 2.5 year payback at realised uranium price of US$80/lb U₃O₈

•     At uranium prices of US$100/lb U₃O₈ the economics increase to post-tax NPV₈ US$596M (A$851M) and IRR 49%

•     Initial mine life of 17 years producing an average 1.9Mlbspa U₃O₈ from the 2.0Mlbspa capacity process plant

•     Life of Mine (LOM) uranium production in this study was 30.1Mlbs U₃O₈

•     91% Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources in mining schedule during the first five years, LOM Inferred material totals 33% mostly beyond ten years in the mining schedule

•     The open pit mining is a simple, low-risk, shallow, free digging operation without the need for crushing and grinding

•     Beneficiation of the ore delivers a high-grade leach feed averaging 1,997ppm U₃O₈ (first 5 years) and 1,743ppm U₃O₈ (LOM), the high-grade leach feed is delivered to the plant for a very low cost of US$8.1/lb U₃O₈ including the cost of mining and beneficiation

•     AISC has increased to US$34.5/lb U₃O₈, an escalation of 16% on the 2023 EFS estimate³. This is largely due to a 40% increase in the fuel price

•     CAPEX of US$230M, an escalation of 29% on the 2023 EFS estimate⁶ as a result of industry-wide escalation and increasing the filtering and water treatment capacity to allow for greater flexibility and lower risk when operating. CAPEX forecast includes a 12% contingency.

•     Uranium production planned within 18 months of Final Investment Decision

•     FEED result confirms and delivers an upgraded process design to de-risk the Project

•     Exploration drilling underway to expand Mineral Resources beyond the current 59Mlbs U₃O₈[7] with a defined Tiris East Exploration Target of an additional 8-32Mlbs U₃O₈[8]

•     Modular design provides opportunities for further capital efficient expansion and scalability

•     Planned construction and operation of the Tiris Uranium Project will deliver significant and ongoing benefits to the people of Mauritania in terms of employment opportunities including professional development training, new infrastructure, forecast taxes and royalties.

Table 1 - Tiris Uranium Project Financial Summary demonstrates robust economics

Figure 1 - Tiris Uranium Project key operational parameters and systems

The modular configuration of the processing plant is well suited to capital efficient and simple expansion to accommodate future growth in Mineral Resources as indicated below.

Ø 2.0Mlbspa U₃O₈ production capacity = US$ 230M development capital (Base Case)

Ø 2.8Mlbspa U₃O₈ production capacity = US$ 83M expansion capital (from 2 to 2.8Mlbpa)

Ø 3.5Mlbspa U₃O₈ production capacity = US$ 166M expansion capital (from 2 to 3.5Mlbpa)

Tiris Exploration

An exploration review using newly acquired radiometric, historic radiometric and drilling data was used to develop an Exploration Target for additional of between 8-32 Mlbs U₃O₈[10]. The Exploration Target is immediately adjacent and contiguous to the existing Mineral Resource.

The recently completed 15,500m drill programme was undertaken to demonstrate the excellent Mineral Resource growth potential in the Tiris area and to further enhance the Project value through either extending mine life and/or expanding production capacity in the future.

During the March quarter the first batch of results from 793 holes including 3,304m of drilling was released. Subsequent to the end of the quarter, drilling was completed on 4 April and the second batch of results released on 10 April.

Drilling has defined two new areas[11] of extensive shallow and high-grade mineralisation at both Hippolyte South and Sadi and numerous extensions to known mineralisation over the other Mineral Resource areas that should materially add to the existing Minerals Resources of 59Mlbs U₃O₈[12].

Results released during the quarter included:

Figure 2. Hippolyte South: showing grade*thickness from this program along with those from previous drilling in relation to airborne U-radiometric anomalies and current resource outlines. Drilling has confirmed significant new mineralisation outside the resource outlines.

Figure 3. Sadi: showing grade*thickness from this program along with those from previous drilling in relation to airborne U-radiometric anomalies and current resource outlines. Drilling has confirmed significant new mineralisation outside the resource outlines. Drilling has confirmed significant mineralisation outside the resource outlines.  Most significant intercepts occur on low strength radiometric anomalies.

Other Tiris Activities

During the quarter other activities undertake at Tiris included:

The Company initiated a program to generate additional information on the variability and optimisation of processing parameters through the first 4 years of the mine schedule.  The first step was a program of trenching in the Hippolyte Resource with a series of aims, including:

1.            Generate samples for variability testing

2.            Confirm beneficiation response of Hippolyte material

3.            Demonstrate mining parameters

At Hippolyte Zone 3 area a total of 7 trenches were dug with 74 variability samples and 13 bulk samples collected.  The variability samples will be processed at Aura's Nouakchott laboratory to confirm the concentration factor of uranium to the -75 micron screen fraction and the distribution of minerals, including sulphate and clay minerals.  This information will be included in the Tiris geometallurgical model and provide inputs for further optimisation of the mine schedule.

Various measures for improving community and government engagement have commenced including developing a framework for a more formal community consultation process.

Figure 4 - Tiris Uranium Project Hippolyte Zone 3 variability sampling

Häggån Project Update

The Häggån Polymetallic Project, located in the municipality of Berg in the county of Jämtland, hosts a globally significant 2 billion tonne polymetallic Mineral Resource[13]  which includes 800 Mlbs of U₃O₈[14]_. The primary metals and minerals in Häggån are vanadium, sulphate of potash ("SOP") and uranium, with nickel, molybdenum and zinc also present. 

Approximately 14 percent of the known value of the asset is uranium. Including uranium into the previously published scoping study[15]  increased the Project NPV by 37% at a uranium price of US$65/lb U₃O₈ from the previously stated range of between US$456 million to US$1,307 million.

The Swedish Government announced on 23 February 2024 the launch of an inquiry into overturning the existing ban on mining uranium, which has been in place since 2018. The inquiry will investigate the regulatory changes needed to make uranium extraction legal and analyse whether mining of uranium should be allowed. The conclusions of the inquiry will be presented on the 15 of May 2024. Once the results of the inquiry are published, the Government can choose to go forward with a legislative proposal to Parliament.

On 19 March, at the invitation of Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch, Aura executives attended a mining industry roundtable in Stockholm, along with Swedish mining industry leaders. The purpose was to provide input into the development of the Swedish government's minerals policy.

Aura continues to prepare its submission for an exploitation permit for the Häggån project, which will provide a 25-year tenure.

A 13-hole drilling program was completed in January 2024. All drillholes will be used for hydrological testing, mapping water movements and to establish hydrological baseline.

The test work by Geosyntec for the concession application continued, with hydrological testing, water sampling and characterisation of the ore and waste rock.

In response to the questions and comments arising from a series of community consultations in late 2023, and from engagement with the local County Administrative Board, Aura is undertaking further information gathering work on the project. This work includes data collection on water flows, biodiversity baseline monitoring and an impact assessment of planned activities on areas of potential reindeer husbandry.

Corporate Activities

Option Funding Agreements

On 25 January 2024, the Company announced that it had entered into Option Funding Agreements with investors who have agreed to prepay the Company approximately A$4.3 million, equal to the exercise monies for all remaining options expiring 30 June 2024. The funds will be repaid upon receipt of option exercise monies as and when the current Option holders exercise their options.

In addition, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement for the exercise of 20 million options with PAC Partners Securities Pty Limited, whereby the Underwriter will receive shares equal to the number of shares to be issued on exercise of 100% of the Underwritten Options that are not exercised by the Option Holders by the Option Expiry Date, in lieu of cash. As at 31 March 2024, A$3.7 million remains outstanding under the Option Funding Agreement.

The Options are listed and have an expiry date of 30 June 2024 and an exercise price of A$0.052 each, and on issue convert into ordinary fully paid shares in the Company.

12.0 million options expiring 30 June 2024 at an exercise price of A$0.052 per share were exercised during the reporting period with a further 6.7 million options exercised subsequent to the reporting period. As at 17 April 2024, 64.9 million options remain outstanding.

Private Placement and Share Purchase Plan

On 18 March 2024, the Company announced a placement to professional and sophisticated investors to raise approximately A$16.2 million through the issue of approximately 90.2 million fully paid ordinary shares at A$0.18 per share. The Company will also offer eligible shareholders on 15 March 2024, the opportunity to participate in a Share Purchase Plan ("SPP") of up to A$2 million through the issue of approximately 11.1 million fully paid ordinary shares subject to shareholder approval.

Participants in the new share issues pursuant to the Placement and the SPP will also receive three new options for every four shares subscribed. The Options are intended to be listed subject to satisfying the quotation requirements of ASX and will have an exercise price of A$0.30 and expiry of two years. Approximately 67.7m options are anticipated to be issued in connection with the Placement and up to 8.3m options through the SPP.

The first tranche of the placement raising approximately A$16.1 million before costs via the placement of 89,668,896 Shares at A$0.18 was completed on the 25 March 2024.

A General Meeting to approve the issue of the Shares and Options under the Tranche 2 Placement, SPP Shares, SPP Options and directors' participation in the Placement has been convened for the 21 May 2024.

Directors have committed A$0.13 million to the Placement.

Cash and Cash Forecast

The Company's cash position as of 31 March 2024 was A$19.0 million. The Company's major cashflow movements for the quarter included:

·    Net proceeds from the Share Placement of A$15.1 million;

·    Net proceeds from Options Funding Agreements of A$3.6 million;

·    Investments in the Company's Exploration and Evaluation assets of A$4.03 million;

·    Admin and corporate costs of A$1.13 million; and

·    Staff costs of $0.47 million.

The forecasted net operating cashflow and investment in the Company's exploration and evaluation assets for the coming quarter is A$5.73 million. With a closing cash balance of A$19.0 million, the company has enough cash for 3.31 quarters.

Management

Andrew Grove was appointed Managing Director and CEO on the 30 January 2024 replacing Dave Woodall. Mr Grove is a highly experienced mining and finance executive with extensive global industry experience across multiple commodities. This includes more than 30 years of managerial, technical, commercial and finance experience, including significant expertise in uranium and West African development and operations.

Mark Somlyay was appointed CFO of Aura on the 26 March 2024, commencing 22 April 2024. Mr Somlyay has more than 20 years' experience in finance, commercial and business improvement within the mining industry. Importantly, the majority of his experience has been in West Africa and in francophone jurisdictions, where he has been involved in the recent development of three greenfield projects.

Both appointments will have a positive impact on the Companies endeavours towards progressing Tiris towards development.

Management participated in the Indaba conference and undertook site visits to both Tiris and Häggån during the quarter.

Remuneration Consultant

The REM Committee engaged remuneration consultants to provide guidance on a competitive, market related remuneration program for senior executives and non-executive directors.

June Quarter Planned Activities

At Tiris the next steps in progressing towards the construction and development of the Project that will be undertaken or commenced during the next quarter include:

•     Release final drill results from the recently completed drilling program

•     Completion of Mineral Resource update for Tiris East including all new drilling information

•     Engagement with Project funding providers

•     Furthering offtake contract negotiations

•     Water targeting and drilling to confirm and develop water infrastructure sufficient to support future operations

•     Review of engineering and capital cost optimisation

•     Geometallurgy, engineering and design work to support development activities

•     Ongoing baseline environmental and radiation monitoring

•     Commencement of formal community consultation

•     Engagement with government on approvals and development timelines

At Häggån the planned licensing activities include:

•     Analysis of water flows

•     Biodiversity baseline study

•     Reindeer impact assessment

•     Continued preparation for exploitation permit licence submission

March 2024 Quarter ASX Announcements

This Quarterly Activities Report contains information extracted from ASX market announcements reported in accordance with the 2012 edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves" ("2012 JORC Code"). Further details (including 2012 JORC Code reporting tables where applicable) of exploration results referred to in this Quarterly Activities Report can be found in the following announcements lodged on the ASX:

·    Commencement of extensional drilling program at Tiris                                         5 January 2024

·    Options funding agreements secure A$4.3M for Tiris                                                              25 January 2024

·    Aura Energy appoints Andrew Grove as Managing Director &CEO                     30 January 2024

·    Sweden initiates inquiry to overturn uranium mining ban                                      26 February 2024

·    Aura's Tiris FEED Study returns Excellent Economics                                                 28 February 2024

·    Tiris drilling defines extensive new uranium mineralisation                                   12 March 2024

·    Successful A$16.2 Million Placement and SPP Offer                                                  18 March 2024

·    Aura appoints a Chief Financial Officer                                                                           26 March 2024

These announcements are available for viewing on the Company's website auraenergy.com.au. Aura confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in any original ASX announcement.

Tenement Summary

The Company holds the following interest in mining tenements, farm-in and farm-out agreements at the end of the Quarter:

Table 1 - Tenement Summary

Farm-in agreement with Nomads Mining Company sarl, Mauritania, Aura, through subsidiary Archean Greenstone Gold has earned a 70% interest in Nomads 100%-owned exploration permit in Mauritania (refer to ASX announcement 11 June 2019).

ENDS

The Board of Aura Energy Ltd has approved this announcement.

This Announcement contains inside information for the purposes of the UK version of the market abuse regulation (EU No. 596/2014) as it forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("UK MAR").

For further information, please contact:

About Aura Energy (ASX: AEE, AIM: AURA)  

Aura Energy is an Australian-based mineral company with major uranium and polymetallic projects in Africa and Europe.

The Company is focused on developing a uranium mine at the Tiris Uranium Project, a major greenfield uranium discovery in Mauritania. The February 2024 FEED study demonstrated Tiris to be a near-term low-cost 2Mlbs U3O8 pa near term uranium mine with a 17-year mine life with excellent economics and optionality to expand to accommodate resource growth.

Aura plans to transition from a uranium explorer to a uranium producer to capitalise on the rapidly growing demand for nuclear power as the world shifts towards a decarbonised energy sector.

Beyond the Tiris Project, Aura owns 100% of the Häggån Project in Sweden. Häggån contains a global-scale 2.5Bt vanadium, sulphate of potash ("SOP") and uranium resource. Utilising only 3% of the resource, a 2023 Scoping Study outlined a 27-year mine life based on mining 3.5Mtpa.

Disclaimer Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 

This ASX announcement (Announcement) contains various forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to uncertainties in that they may be affected by a variety of known and unknown risks, variables and factors which could cause actual values or results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the expectations described in such forward-looking statements. The Company does not give any assurance or guarantee that the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in those forward-looking statements will be achieved.

Competent Persons Statement

The Competent Person for the calculation of significant intercepts is Mr Arnold van der Heyden of H&S Consulting Pty Ltd. The information in the report to which this statement is attached that relates to the 2023 Mineral Resource Estimate is based on information compiled by Mr van der Heyden. Mr van der Heyden has sufficient experience that is relevant to the resource estimation to qualify Mr van der Heyden as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'. Mr van der Heyden is an employee of H&S Consultants Pty Ltd, a Sydney based geological consulting firm. Mr van der Heyden is a Member and Chartered Professional of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information.

The Competent Person for drill hole data is Dr Michael Fletcher. The information in the report to which this statement is attached that relates to compiling resource estimates and to drill hole data is based on information compiled by Dr Michael Fletcher. Dr Fletcher has sufficient relevant experience in the preparation and compilation of exploration data across a broad range of deposits to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'. Dr Fletcher is a consultant to Aura Energy and a full-time employee of GeoEndeavours Pty Ltd. Dr Fletcher is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Geoscientists and consents to the inclusion in the report of this information.

The Competent Person for interpreting downhole gamma information, disequilibrium analysis and assay results is Mr David Wilson. Mr Wilson has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'. Mr Wilson is a consultant to Aura Energy and is a full-time employee of 3D Exploration. Mr Wilson is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Geoscientists and consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information.

The Tiris Uranium Resource Estimate was reported in 2023 under the 2012 Edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". The Mineral Resource Estimate was detailed in ASX announcement: "Major Resource Upgrade at Aura Energy's Tiris Project" 14th February 2023.  Aura confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in this announcement regarding the mineral resources and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates continue to apply and have not materially changed.