Alligator Energy has completed both the dry and wet commissioning activities of the pilot plant for its Samphire uranium project in South Australia.
Alligator will now proceed to energise the plant and undertake final operational preparations.
The first test pattern pre-conditioning will commence next week, with the first meaningful field recovery results expected in late March.
The field recovery trial is expected to operate for approximately four months and will generate a consistent stream of data over this period. The company will use the data to validate recovery performance and operating parameters to support future development decisions at Samphire.
Alligator CEO Andrea Marsland-Smith said the company achieved the commissioning milestone after working towards it for a number of years.
“Completing commissioning in line with our schedule bodes very well for the next phase of this project and highlights the strength of our internal capabilities and the quality of our team,” she said.
“With the plant ready to operate and a fully-staffed site, we are now transitioning into operations and field recovery—the coming months will be busy and highly active as we continue to build momentum across the business,” she added.
In parallel with the field recovery trials, Alligator will advance several value-accretive workstreams across its uranium portfolio.
These will include an upgrade of the Samphire mineral resource estimate to incorporate the Plumbush satellite prospect, as well as the commencement of an aggressive drilling program at Samphire and the nearby Big Lake project.
Alligator expects these activities to position the company for a period of sustained operational progress through the coming months as the company moves from construction and commissioning into active trial operations, resource growth and the completion of a feasibility study.
