Alligator Energy Ltd has commenced uranium extraction at its Samphire uranium project in South Australia, following the completion of commissioning.
The company has achieved the first test pattern pre-conditioning field recovery trial (FRT) and introduced reagents into its first trial wellfield, triggering the recovery of uranium-bearing solutions.
The trial was designed to test the efficiency of In-Situ Recovery (ISR) at the site. While operations are in their early stages, the company confirmed that initial concentrations of uranium are already observable in the pregnant liquor solution flowing into the pilot plant.
The FRT is scheduled to run for approximately four months, serving as a high-tech data factory for the company’s ongoing bankable feasibility study.
By monitoring wellflow rates, solution chemistry, and extraction performance in real-time, Alligator aims to prove the commercial viability of the deposit.
Alligator CEO Andrea Marsland-Smith noted that the early results are highly encouraging, with the infrastructure performing exactly as designed.
“This is another milestone for the Samphire project and reflects the consistent progress the team has made in systematically advancing and de-risking the project,” the CEO said.
“The start of uranium extraction is an exciting step towards further confidence in the project’s development pathway, particularly when the deposit is responding well to the in-situ recovery process in these early stages of the trial.”
While the pilot plant at Samphire takes centre stage, Alligator is maintaining an aggressive pace across its wider portfolio.
The company is currently working on a mineral resource estimate upgrade for Samphire, which will incorporate the Plumbush satellite prospect.
Simultaneously, drilling rigs are being deployed to the Big Lake project to test further targets, provided the weather holds. With a steady stream of technical data expected over the coming weeks and mining lease permitting activities underway, Alligator is positioning itself for a period of sustained operational progress.
