Consolidated Uranium Inc. (the "Company", “CUR” or
“Consolidated Uranium”) (TSXV: CUR) (OTCQB: CURUF) is
pleased to share an open letter from Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer, Philip Williams, to shareholders of the Company.
Dear Fellow Shareholders:
As we begin 2023, I wanted to take a moment to
reflect on our Company’s achievements over the past year and set
out our objectives for the upcoming year and beyond.
Industry Dynamics Still Point to a
Bright Future
Given the relative weakness in uranium prices
and the poor performance of uranium equities over the second half
of 2022, it may be hard to look at 2023 with a great deal of
optimism. However, we at CUR believe the future continues to look
bright for the sector and that 2023 may turn out to be a pivotal
year for the nuclear industry and by extension the uranium
sector.
Uranium spot prices now sit at US$47.60 per
pound versus US$43.25 per pound a year ago, representing an
increase of 10%, however this only tells half of the story. In
April spot prices peaked at US$63.75 dropping back to US$50.00 in
May and staying relatively range bond over the balance of 2022.
This performance mirrored global equity markets, showing the
commodity is not immune to overall market conditions. The long-term
price indicator of Uranium now sits at US$53.00 per pound up from
US$45.00 per pound or an increase of 18% from one year ago.
Although both of these prices are important, two other recent
values point toward higher prices going forward:
- The first is US$56.20 per pound,
which is the current level of TradeTech’s production cost
indicator, defined as the weighted average life-of-mine cost needed
to support additional uranium production required to sustain the
global nuclear fuel industry. Given inflationary pressures on many
of the key inputs in the mining industry, while we could argue that
the cost of uranium production is actually higher, this number
indicates that uranium prices, both spot and long term, need to
rise dramatically in order to support required future
production.
- The second is US$70.50 per pound,
which is the price the US Government recently agreed to pay when
purchasing 100,000 pounds of uranium as part of creating its
Uranium Reserve Program. This price was the highest reported as
part of the program which included five different sellers, and we
believe it is a clear signal that the price required to support
much needed new production in the US is likely above of US$70.00
per pound.
Turning to the nuclear industry, this is where
things get very interesting. Over the past year it seemed that a
week didn’t go by without a significant announcement relating to
new nuclear build plans or reactor life extensions, international
acceptance for nuclear power and small modular reactor news, with
most of these announcements underpinning a strong demand for
nuclear going forward. This anecdotal positive demand for nuclear
power was quantified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (the
“IAEA”) in its projections for Nuclear Power Growth published in
September 2022 where, for the second year in a row, the IAEA
revised upwards its annual projections. In its high case scenario,
the IAEA now sees world nuclear generating capacity more than
doubling by 2050 to 873 gigawatts net electrical (GWe),
representing an increase of 10% compared with last year’s report.
This is the scenario we are preparing for at Consolidated
Uranium.
Dual Track Business Model Takes
Shape
In our 2021 year end letter to shareholders, we
outlined the dual track business plan for the year consisting of
both continued, opportunistic project acquisitions as well as
project level work to advance the existing portfolio. I’m pleased
to report that both objectives were achieved in 2022:
- On the acquisition front, we added
several key projects in Australia where we now have 6 projects in
Queensland located in the key uranium areas in the state. We also
announced our first foray into South Australia which we view as a
premier uranium mining jurisdiction with a mine currently operating
and several exciting exploration and development projects. Most
significantly, we announced the acquisition of Virginia Energy
Resources Inc., owner of the Coles Hill project in Virginia which
ranks as the largest undeveloped uranium project in the United
States. Following completion of the acquisition of Virginia Energy,
which is expected in late January, CUR’s portfolio will boast
exposure to one of the largest uranium endowments of any of its
peers.
- On the project advancement front,
our main focus for the year was the drill programs at our three
past-producing mines located in Utah, United States. This work,
while still underway, led to the completion of a NI 43-101 mineral
resource estimate for the Tony M project and highlighted several
recommended work programs for the project, which we intend to
pursue in 2023. In Argentina, our team has completed a large-scale
surface program aimed at identifying mineralization beyond the area
of the historic mineral resource estimate. We expect that the
results from this work program will be released in the first
quarter of 2023.
Looking forward, the roadmap for the Company is
to become a globally significant, multi-asset, diversified miner
and developer of uranium projects. We created the graphic below to
illustrate our strategy (Figure 1). It shows the three categories
our current projects fit in: Near Term Production Potential, Medium
Term Exploration and Development and Long Term Call Options. Our
goal is to continue adding to the Near Term Production Potential
category through either the advancement of our existing projects
from the other two categories or through additional M&A
activity. As we move toward this goal, we recognize that certain
existing projects may be better suited for additional spin-out
transactions, as we did with Labrador Uranium Inc. (LUR:CSE) early
in 2022.
Figure 1: CUR Strategy and Portfolio
Roadmap
2023 Promises to be Another Pivotal Year
for CUR
With another busy and successful year completed
we turn our attention to 2023. Major themes we expect to see this
year include continued M&A in the sector and continued focus
from investors and end users on diversifying away from higher risk
geopolitical countries. In addition, we believe that the increased
view of nuclear, and therefore uranium, as a key source of
low-carbon, base load power generation will land uranium on the
radar of a larger audience of investors, including both generalists
and clean energy transition funds. In closing, I can confidently
reiterate the following highlights from last years letter to our
shareholders, which continue to be representative of our strategy
and investment case:
- CUR is in the right sector at the
right time; uranium is currently in a bull trend and has the
potential to deliver robust returns for equity investors;
- CUR has the right team, which
together boasts decades of uranium, M&A, exploration and mine
development expertise;
- CUR has the right portfolio, a
diversified, fast growing portfolio of projects located in top tier
mining and uranium jurisdictions with significant past expenditures
and near-term production potential; and
- CUR has a proven track record. In
less than three years, the Company has executed multiple M&A
transactions, secured multiple financings and has increased market
recognition as measured by market capitalization and trading
liquidity.
I would like to thank all of you for your
continued support and joining us on this journey.
Yours truly,
Philip Williams, Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer
Grant of Compensation
Securities
Pursuant to CUR’s long term incentive plan, the
Company has granted certain officers, directors, employees and
consultants options to purchase an aggregate of 1,125,000 common
shares of the Company and an aggregate of 225,000 restricted share
units. The options are exercisable at a price of $1.62 per common
share for a period of five years and vest over three years as
follows: one-third vesting immediately, one-third vesting after one
year and one-third vesting after two years. The restricted share
units, each of which entitles the holder to receive one common
share of the Company, vest over three years as follows: one-third
vesting after one year, one-third vesting after two years and
one-third vesting after three years. The options and restricted
share units are subject to approval of the TSX Venture
Exchange.
About Consolidated Uranium
Consolidated Uranium Inc. (TSXV: CUR) (OTCQB:
CURUF) was created in early 2020 to capitalize on an anticipated
uranium market resurgence using the proven model of diversified
project consolidation. To date, the Company has acquired or has the
right to acquire uranium projects in Australia, Canada, Argentina,
and the United States each with significant past expenditures and
attractive characteristics for development. Most recently, the
Company completed a transformational strategic acquisition and
alliance with Energy Fuels Inc., a leading U.S.-based uranium
mining company, and acquired a portfolio of permitted,
past-producing conventional uranium and vanadium mines in Utah and
Colorado. These mines are currently on stand-by, ready for rapid
restart as market conditions permit, positioning CUR as a near-term
uranium producer.For More Information, Please
Contact
Philip WilliamsChairman
and CEO pwilliams@consolidateduranium.com
Toll-Free: 1-833-572-2333Twitter:
@ConsolidatedUr www.consolidateduranium.com
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations
Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Statement Regarding
“Forward-Looking” Information
This news release contains "forward-looking
information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities
legislation. “Forward-looking information” includes, but is not
limited to, statements with respect to activities, events or
developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may
occur in the future including expectations regarding Uranium prices
and the potential to deliver robust returns for equity investors,
expectations regarding world nuclear capacity, expectations
regarding potential value creation from project acquisitions and
advancement, expectations regarding project-level activities and
new M&A activity, the Company’s ongoing business plan and
approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Generally, but not always,
forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the
use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”,
“scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or
“believes” or the negative connotation thereof or variations of
such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or
results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”,
“occur” or “be achieved” or the negative connotation thereof. Such
forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous
assumptions, including that general business and economic
conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that
financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable
terms, and that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and
governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Company’s
planned exploration and development activities will be available on
reasonable terms and in a timely manner. Although the assumptions
made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or
making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by
management at the time, there can be no assurance that such
assumptions will prove to be accurate.
Forward-looking information and statements also
involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other
factors, which may cause actual events or results in future periods
to differ materially from any projections of future events or
results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or
statements, including, among others: negative operating cash flow
and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of additional
financing, no known mineral reserves, reliance on key management
and other personnel, potential downturns in economic conditions,
actual results of exploration activities being different than
anticipated, changes in exploration programs based upon results,
and risks generally associated with the mineral exploration
industry, environmental risks, changes in laws and regulations,
community relations and delays in obtaining governmental or other
approvals and the risk factors with respect to Consolidated Uranium
set out in CUR’s annual information form in respect of the year
ended December 31, 2021 filed with the Canadian securities
regulators and available under CUR’s profile on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com.
Although the Company has attempted to identify
important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those contained in the forward-looking information
or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other
factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or
intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking
information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual
results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not
place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.
The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue
forward-looking information as a result of new information or
events except as required by applicable securities laws.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/39dbf044-b17f-4ad6-b20c-53017ef5c3d3
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