Ur-Energy Releases 2024 Q3 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Ur-Energy (URG) reported Q3 2024 results with production at Lost Creek reaching 75,075 pounds captured and 71,804 pounds dried. The company sold 100,000 pounds U3O8 at $61.65 per pound, generating $6.2 million in revenue. Cash resources increased to $129.4 million from $68.2 million at year-end 2023. Due to ramp-up challenges, 2024 production guidance was revised to 240,000-280,000 pounds U3O8. The company expects total 2024 sales of 570,000 pounds at an average price of $58.15 per pound. Development continues at Shirley Basin, with production expected to begin in early 2026, potentially doubling annual production capacity to 2.2M pounds.

Positive

• Cash position increased significantly to $129.4M from $68.2M
• Contract book includes 5.7M pounds U3O8 through 2030
• Q3 production increased from previous quarters
• Generated $99.3M from financing activities

Negative

• Production ramp-up slower than anticipated, guidance lowered to 240,000-280,000 pounds
• Product profit margin decreased to 20.7% in Q3 from 32.4% in Q2
• Production costs increased to $48.91/lb in Q3 from $41.69/lb in Q2
• Average sales price of $58.15/lb for 2024 contracts below current market prices

Insights

Financial Analyst

URG's Q3 results reveal mixed performance with $6.2M in revenue from selling 100,000 pounds of U3O8 at $61.65/lb. The company's cash position strengthened to $129.4M, up $61.2M from year-end 2023. However, production costs increased significantly, with U3O8 cost per pound rising to $48.91 in Q3, resulting in compressed margins of 20.7% compared to 53.6% in Q4 2023. The reduced 2024 production guidance of 240,000-280,000 pounds signals operational challenges. The contract book of 5.7M pounds through 2030 provides revenue visibility, but current contracts were negotiated at lower historical prices, impacting near-term profitability.

Mining Operations Expert

The slower-than-expected ramp-up at Lost Creek and production challenges are concerning, despite quarterly increases in capture rates. Q3 production metrics show 75,075 pounds captured and 71,804 pounds packaged, with plans to increase drill rigs to 20. The Shirley Basin expansion project remains on track for 2026 production, which would boost total capacity to 2.2M pounds annually. The operational focus on increasing header houses and monitor well installation demonstrates systematic expansion, though execution risks remain. The 25.7% YTD profit margin suggests operational inefficiencies need addressing for long-term sustainability.

LITTLETON, CO / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / Ur-Energy Inc. (NYSE American:URG)(TSX:URE) (the "Company" or "Ur-Energy") has filed the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml and with Canadian securities authorities at www.sedarplus.ca.

Ur-Energy CEO, John Cash said: "The uranium market fundamentals remain strong, and, despite some volatility, we expect to see continued price support based on a slow response by suppliers to growing demand. We estimate this imbalance will take many years to correct and could be exacerbated by geopolitical events.

"Production at Lost Creek continued to increase quarter over quarter. While ramp-up has progressed at a slower rate than anticipated, we continue to work through the remaining challenges to facilitate steady state operations with increased production. Development and construction programs at Shirley Basin continue to advance and we expect to increase our company wide production capacity to 2.2M pounds per year in early 2026 when we anticipate bringing Shirley Basin online."

Lost Creek Operations

During 2024 Q3 we captured 75,075 pounds, dried and packaged 71,804 pounds and shipped 67,488 pounds U₃O₈. Although not at previously anticipated rates, these figures represent increases in production numbers compared with the captured and dried figures of earlier quarters.

At quarter end, our in-process inventory was approximately 90,140 pounds, our drummed inventory at Lost Creek was 26,580 pounds, and our finished inventory at the conversion facility was 40,713 pounds U₃O₈. In addition to the two shipments made to the conversion facility during 2024 Q3, we made two shipments following the end of the quarter, which totaled 46,592 pounds U₃O₈.

As we continue to work through the challenges of ramp-up at Lost Creek, we now anticipate 2024 production will be in a range between 240,000 and 280,000 pounds U₃O₈ captured on IX resin.

We expect to satisfy our remaining 2024 contractual commitments to our customers with Lost Creek production and other available sources.

Sales of U₃O₈ and Sales Agreements

We sold 100,000 pounds U₃O₈ in 2024 Q3 at an average price of $61.65 per pound for proceeds of $6.2 million.

We continue to anticipate that we will deliver and sell 570,000 pounds U₃O₈ in 2024. Including the revenue received during the quarter, we expect to realize revenues of $33.1 million from our 2024 U₃O₈ sales.

We anticipate we will deliver 740,000 pounds U₃O₈ into three of our term sales agreements in 2025.

Financial Results

As of September 30, 2024, we had cash resources of $129.4 million, which was an increase of $61.2 million from the $68.2 million balance on December 31, 2023. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, we spent $32.5 million on operating activities, used $5.7 million on investing activities, and generated $99.3 million from financing activities.

U₃O₈ Sales by Product, U₃O₈ Product Cost, and U₃O₈ Product Profit ¹

The following table provides information on our U₃O₈ sales, product costs, and product profit.

		Unit					2023 Q4				2024 Q1				2024 Q2				2024 Q3			2024 YTD
U3O8 Pounds Sold
Produced		lb					90,000				-				75,000				100,000				175,000
Purchased		lb					-				-				-				-				-
		lb					90,000				-				75,000				100,000				175,000
U3O8 Sales
Produced		$ 000					5,441				-				4,624				6,165				10,789
Purchased		$ 000					-				-				-				-				-
		$ 000					5,441				-				4,624				6,165				10,789
U3O8 Price per Pounds Sold
Produced		$/lb					60.44				-				61.65				61.65				61.65
Purchased		$/lb					-				-				-				-				-
		$/lb					60.44				-				61.65				61.65				61.65
U3O8 Product Cost
Ad valorem and severance taxes		$ 000					53				-				42				81				123
Cash costs		$ 000					1,674				-				2,336				3,798				6,134
Non-cash costs		$ 000					797				-				749				1,012				1,761
Produced		$ 000					2,524				-				3,127				4,891				8,018
Purchased		$ 000					-				-
		$ 000					2,524				-				3,127				4,891				8,018
U3O8 Cost per Pound Sold
Ad valorem and severance taxes		$/lb					0.59				-				0.56				0.81				0.70
Cash costs		$/lb					18.60				-				31.15				37.98				35.05
Non-cash costs		$/lb					8.85				-				9.98				10.12				10.07
Produced		$/lb					28.04				-				41.69				48.91				45.82
Purchased		$/lb					-				-				-				-				-
		$/lb					28.04				-				41.69				48.91				45.82
U3O8 Product Profit
Produced		$ 000					2,917				-				1,497				1,274				2,771
Purchased		$ 000					-				-				-				-				-
		$ 000					2,917				-				1,497				1,274				2,771
U3O8 Product Profit per Pound Sold
Produced		$/lb					32.40				-				19.96				12.74				15.83
Purchased		$/lb					-				-				-				-				-
		$/lb					32.40				-				19.96				12.74				15.83
U3O8 Product Profit Margin
Produced		%					53.6	%			0.0	%			32.4	%			20.7	%			25.7	%
Purchased		%					0.0	%			0.0	%			0.0	%			0.0	%			0.0	%
		%					53.6	%			0.0	%			32.4	%			20.7	%			25.7	%

1 The U3O8 and cost per pound measures included in the above table do not have a standardized meaning within US GAAP or a defined basis of calculation. These measures are used by management to assess business performance and determine production and pricing strategies. They may also be used by certain investors to evaluate performance.

We sold 175,000 pounds of U₃O₈ in the nine months ended September 30, 2024 at an average price per pound sold of $61.65. In the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we sold 190,000 pounds at an average price per pound sold of $62.56.

Our total sales in 2024 are projected at 570,000 pounds of U₃O₈ at an average price per pound sold of $58.15 and we expect to realize revenues of $33.1 million. The deliveries are under contracts negotiated in 2022, when the long-term price was between $43 and $52 per pound.

U₃O₈ Production and Ending Inventory

The following table provides information on our production and ending inventory of U₃O₈ pounds.

		Unit					2023 Q4				2024 Q1				2024 Q2				2024 Q3			2024 YTD
U3O8 Production
Pounds captured		lb					68,448				38,221				70,679				75,075				183,975
Pounds drummed		lb					6,519				39,229				64,170				71,804				175,203
Pounds shipped		lb					-				35,445				70,390				67,488				173,323
U3O8 Ending Inventory
Pounds
In-process inventory		lb					82,033				80,465				86,204				90,140
Plant inventory		lb					22,278				26,062				21,570				26,580
Conversion inventory - produced		lb					43,790				79,235				74,625				40,713
		lb					148,101				185,762				182,399				157,433
Value
In-process inventory		$ 000					-				-				447				427
Plant inventory		$ 000					1,343				1,593				1,072				1,499
Conversion inventory - produced		$ 000					1,228				3,105				3,555				2,320
		$ 000					2,571				4,698				5,074				4,246
Cost per Pound
In-process inventory		$/lb					-				-				5.19				4.74
Plant inventory		$/lb					60.28				61.12				49.70				56.40
Conversion inventory - produced		$/lb					28.04				39.19				47.64				56.98
Produced conversion inventory detail
Ad valorem and severance tax		$/lb					0.59				0.53				0.67				1.63
Cash cost		$/lb					18.60				28.47				36.77				45.26
Non-cash cost		$/lb					8.85				10.19				10.20				10.09
		$/lb					28.04				39.19				47.64				56.98

2024 Continuing Guidance

With eight operational Header Houses (HHs) in MU2, we continue our ramp up toward target production levels and steady state operations at Lost Creek. To facilitate ongoing increases in production levels, we anticipate increasing our drill rig count through the end of the year to approximately 20 rigs. Fabrication of HHs 2-13 through 2-15 is in progress in our Casper construction shop and onsite construction related to these next header houses continues to advance. HH 2-15 is a newly planned production area for which we are advancing development and construction. We are also drilling in MU1 for the next phase of its production.

Because of continuing challenges of ramp-up at Lost Creek, we now anticipate 2024 production will be in a range between 240,000 and 280,000 pounds U₃O₈ captured on IX resin.

We have commitments under contracts negotiated in 2022, when the long-term price was between $43 and $52 per pound, for deliveries of 570,000 pounds U₃O₈ in 2024 and expect to realize revenues of $33.1 million. We anticipate making our remaining deliveries of 395,000 pounds U₃O₈ during Q4 with Lost Creek production and other available alternatives.

During the quarter, uranium spot prices softened to an average of approximately $82 per pound U₃O₈. However, average term pricing, which has increased steadily for several years now, reached approximately $81 per pound U₃O₈ during the quarter.

Term pricing has been supported by continued requests for proposals ("RFPs") in the market from utilities and other global fuel buyers. We have responded to the RFPs with prices commensurate with rising market conditions including increased demand for domestically produced uranium. Our contract book now includes agreements with six leading nuclear fuel purchasers, with commitments of approximately 5.7 million pounds U₃O₈ with deliveries occurring in 2024 through 2030. Sales prices are anticipated to be profitable on an all-in production cost basis and escalate annually from initial pricing, including some market-based pricing features.

We are progressing the buildout of a satellite facility at our wholly owned, fully permitted and licensed Shirley Basin Project in Carbon County, Wyoming. The buildout will nearly double our annual permitted mine production to 2.2 million pounds U₃O₈.

At October 30, 2024, our unrestricted cash position was $110.3 million. With this strong treasury, we are well funded for continuing construction at Shirley Basin.

Installation of the monitor wells for the first mine unit at Shirley Basin is complete. We have commenced the pump test program, which remains on schedule to be completed this year. Road construction is complete and the refurbishment of existing and installation of new electric infrastructure are all advancing. Renovation of existing buildings has begun. Major construction activities at Shirley Basin are expected to begin in 2025 and initial production is expected to commence in early 2026.

We are pleased to be one of the few publicly traded companies that is commercially recovering uranium and working to expand our production capacity to sell into a sustained stronger uranium market. We will continue to closely monitor the uranium markets, and other developments, which may affect the uranium production industry and provide the opportunity to put in place additional off-take sales contracts.

As always, we will focus on maintaining safe and compliant operations.

About Ur-Energy

Ur-Energy is a uranium mining company operating the Lost Creek in situ recovery uranium facility in south-central Wyoming. We have produced and packaged approximately 2.7 million pounds U₃O₈ from Lost Creek since the commencement of operations. Ur-Energy has all major permits and authorizations to begin construction at Shirley Basin, the Company's second in situ recovery uranium facility in Wyoming and is advancing Shirley Basin construction and development following the March 2024 ‘go' decision for the mine. We await the remaining regulatory authorization for the expansion of Lost Creek. Ur‑Energy is engaged in uranium mining, recovery and processing activities, including the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of uranium mineral properties in the United States. The primary trading market for Ur‑Energy's common shares is on the NYSE American under the symbol "URG." Ur‑Energy's common shares also trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "URE." Ur-Energy's corporate office is in Littleton, Colorado and its registered office is in Ottawa, Ontario.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
John W. Cash, Chairman, CEO and President
+1 720-981-4588, ext. 303
John.Cash@Ur-Energy.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws regarding events or conditions that may occur in the future (e.g., our ability to maintain operations at Lost Creek in a safe and compliant fashion; ability and timing to overcome production challenges to increase production levels and meet our production projections; whether we are able to remain ahead of supply chain challenges in our procurement of equipment and supplies for both Lost Creek and Shirley Basin; our ability to timely deliver into our sales contracts with Lost Creek production and other available sources; the ability to advance development and construction priorities at Lost Creek and Shirley Basin including further recruitment and retention of employees; the ability to complete build out of Shirley Basin as currently projected and budgeted; whether market fundamentals will remain strong and whether the imbalance being created in supply demand may take years to correct and the effects of geopolitical events; and whether we are able to complete additional favorable uranium sales agreements) and are based on current expectations that, while considered reasonable by management at this time, inherently involve a number of significant business, economic and competitive risks, uncertainties and contingencies. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans," "expects," "does not expect," "is expected," "is likely," "estimates," "intends," "anticipates," "does not anticipate," or "believes," or variations of the foregoing, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "might" or "will be taken," "occur," "be achieved" or "have the potential to." All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements express or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates; failure to establish estimated resources and reserves; the grade and recovery of ore which is mined varying from estimates; production rates, methods and amounts varying from estimates; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals; inflation; changes in exchange rates; fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in development and other factors described in the public filings made by the Company at www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date hereof and Ur-Energy disclaims any intent or obligation to update them or revise them to reflect any change in circumstances or in management's beliefs, expectations or opinions that occur in the future.

SOURCE: Ur-Energy Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com

FAQ

What was Ur-Energy's (URG) Q3 2024 production volume?

Ur-Energy captured 75,075 pounds, dried and packaged 71,804 pounds, and shipped 67,488 pounds of U3O8 in Q3 2024.

What is Ur-Energy's (URG) revised production guidance for 2024?

Due to ramp-up challenges, Ur-Energy revised its 2024 production guidance to between 240,000 and 280,000 pounds U3O8.

What was Ur-Energy's (URG) cash position as of September 30, 2024?

Ur-Energy reported cash resources of $129.4 million as of September 30, 2024, an increase from $68.2 million at the end of 2023.

When is Ur-Energy's (URG) Shirley Basin project expected to begin production?

Ur-Energy expects to begin initial production at the Shirley Basin project in early 2026.