Yellow Cake PLC Announces Quarterly Operating Update
- None.
- None.
JERSEY, UK / ACCESSWIRE / January 24, 2024 / Yellow Cake, a specialist company operating in the uranium sector holding physical uranium ("U 3 O 8 ") for the long term, is pleased to report its performance for the quarter ended 31 December 2023 (the "Quarter").
Highlights
Market Highlights
- The uranium spot price increased
23.8% from US$73.50 /lb [1] on 30 September 2023 to US$91.00 /lb [2] as at 31 December 2023 and is currently US$105.00 /lb. [3] - The global uranium market remains supply constrained. Limited supply from inventories, geo-political issues, including the on-going Russia-Ukraine war, announced delays in production ramp-ups coupled with rising uranium demand continues to exert upward pressure on the uranium price which reached US
$106.00 /lb on 15 January 2024. These factors may contribute to further upward pressure on the uranium spot price in the near- to medium-term.
Company Highlights
- Following the completion of a further oversubscribed share placing on 2 October 2023 which raised gross proceeds of approximately £103 million (approximately US
$125 million ), Yellow Cake informed Kazatomprom that it had elected to purchase 1,526,717 lb of U 3 O 8 at a price of US$65.50 /lb, or US$100.0 million in aggregate, exercising the entirety of the Company's 2023 uranium purchase option under its Framework Agreement with Kazatomprom. Yellow Cake expects delivery to take place in June 2024. On completion of this purchase, Yellow Cake will hold 21.68 million lb of U 3 O 8 . - The value of U 3 O 8 held increased
23.8% over the Quarter from US$1,481.4 million as at 30 September 2023 to US$1,834.2 million as at 31 December 2023 as a result of a corresponding increase in the uranium spot price. - Estimated net asset value per share increased
15.0% over the Quarter from £6.18 per share [4] as at 30 September 2023 to £7.11 per share [5] as at 31 December 2023, a result of the increase in the uranium price, partly offset by the appreciation of Sterling over the Quarter. - Yellow Cake's estimated proforma net asset value on 23 January 2024 was £8.40 per share or US
$2,308.9 million , assuming 21.68 million lb of U 3 O 8 [6] valued at a spot price of US$105.00 /lb [7] and cash and other current assets and liabilities. [8] - All U 3 O 8 to which the Company has title and has paid for, is held at the Cameco storage facility in Canada and the Orano storage facility in France. The Company's operations, financial condition and ability to purchase and take delivery of U 3 O 8 from Kazatomprom, or any other party, have to date remained unaffected by the geopolitical events in Ukraine.
Andre Liebenberg, CEO of Yellow Cake, said:
"We were proud to pass the considerable milestone of a US
Uranium Market Developments and Outlook
Global Uranium Market
The uranium spot price rose very significantly during the Quarter as emerging demand was met with limited supply. UxC data indicated that a total of 15.1 million pounds of U 3 O 8 were transacted over the three-month period, with the uranium spot price increasing from US
Price indicators reflecting the longer-term uranium market strengthened over the Quarter as the 3-year forward price rose from US
Nuclear Generation / Uranium Demand
During the Quarter, the Council of Ministers of Bulgaria approved the construction of Kozloduy nuclear power plant - Unit 7 and preparatory work for Unit 8, both of which will be AP1,000 reactors. The target date for commercial operation of Unit 7 has been set at 2033, while Unit 8 is expected to follow two to three years later. The planned capacity of the two units will total 2,300 Mwe, which exceeds the aggregate capacity of the four closed units located at Kozloduy. [11]
Slovenian utility GEN Energy is considering the construction of two large reactors totalling 2,400 Mwe (JEK2 Project). Three reactor suppliers, Westinghouse, EDF and KHNP, are competing for the business with a decision expected by 2028 and a commercial operation date in the 2030s. At the present time, Slovenia has a single 696 Mwe pressurised water reactor, Krsko, jointly owned with Croatia, which provides approximately one-third of the country's electricity. [12]
In September 2023, the Swedish government decided to table a proposed amendment to the country's nuclear energy regulations (Environmental Code) which would remove the current stipulation that any new nuclear reactor can only be authorised if it replaces a permanently closed reactor and must be built on a site where one of the existing reactors is located. The recently elected government is also pursuing legislation which would address the potential development of small modular reactors ("SMRs") in Sweden. [13]
Finnish utility, Teollisuuden Voima Oyj ("TVO") announced that it had initiated an environmental impact assessment for the possible operating license extension and potential power uprating of Units 1 and 2 at its Olkiluoto nuclear power plant. The two units which supply
Norsk Kjernkraft submitted a proposal to Norway's Ministry of Oil and Energy for an assessment of the construction of a power plant based on multiple SMRs in the municipalities of Aure and Heim. Once approved by the government agency, the environmental impact assessment phase can begin. In June, the company signed a letter of intent with TVO Nuclear Services, a consulting company wholly owned by the Finnish utility TVO, to jointly investigate the suitability and effectiveness of the development of nuclear power in Norway. [15]
In November 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers of Sri Lanka approved a sweeping reform bill (Electricity Act) providing for the unbundling and restructuring of the Ceylon Electricity Board ("CEB"), the country's electricity provider. The CEB has included nuclear power from 2030 under scenarios in its long-term energy plans. [16]
In November 2023, the United States and the Philippines executed a 123 Agreement addressing nuclear cooperation between the two countries. The Philippine government has committed to pursuing nuclear power especially SMRs within the country as peak energy demands are forecast to nearly quadruple by 2040. President Marcos stated that the country envisions nuclear energy becoming a component of the Philippine energy mix by 2032. [17]
Also in November 2023, the European Parliament adopted its official position on the proposed Net-Zero Industry Act ("NZIA") which aims to support Europe's manufacturing output in technologies needed for decarbonisation. The MEPs included nuclear fission and fusion amongst the list of 17 technologies addressed by the legislation. The NZIA sets a target for Europe to produce
On 25 December 2023, Russia and India executed agreements in support of two additional Russian-designed VVER-1000 reactors to be built at Kudankulam in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. The two units will join an existing nuclear complex consisting of two VVER-1000 reactors which entered commercial operation in 2014 and 2017, two additional units under construction since 2017 as well as a further two reactors which entered construction in 2021. [19]
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power ("KHNP") announced the grid connection of Unit 2 of the Shin Hanul nuclear power plant in South Korea. The national utility stated that the 1,350 Mwe pressurized water reactor was connected on 21 December 2023, becoming the 28 th operating nuclear unit in the country. KHNP plans to construct two additional APR-1,400 reactors at the site. [20]
On 27 December 2023, the Nuclear Regulation Authority ("NRA") of Japan authorized fuel loading in Units 6 & 7 at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant located in Niigata prefecture. Unit-6 (1,315 Mwe) entered commercial operation in January 1996 followed by Unit 7 (1,315 Mwe) which became operational in December 1996. The massive Kashiwazaki facility, owned and operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company ("TEPCO") with a capacity of 8,212 Mwe has been off-line since 2012 following the Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011. [21]
Uranium/Nuclear Fuel Supply
In October 2023, Boss Energy announced the commencement of uranium mining at its South Australia-based facility, Honeymoon. Subsequent to being shut down in November 2013 due to depressed uranium prices, the in-situ recovery project has undergone refurbishment with initial production of uranium beginning during the Quarter. The initial well field began pre-conditioning in the lead up to feeding the processing plant prior to year-end. [22]
In October 2023, Orano took the decision to expand uranium enrichment capacity at the Georges Besse 2 Uranium Enrichment Plant, located at Tricastin, France. The facility entered operation in 2011 reaching its current full production capacity of 7.5 million SWU (separative work units) in 2016, based on centrifuge technology. The Orano board approved the planned expansion of 2.5 million SWU at a cost of 1.7 billion euros. [23]
On 7 November 2023, Cameco (
Kazatomprom released its Q3 2023 Operations and Trading Update which reported a slight decline in Kazakh uranium production for the first nine months of the year (2023 - 39.8 million lb compared to 2022 - 40.2 million lb) but reconfirmed its 2023 guidance at 53.3 - 55.9 million lb. However, the world's largest producer of uranium cautioned that "issues associated with limited access to certain key materials, such as sulfuric acid, remain persistent, and might potentially have a negative impact on 2024 production." The company reported that as of the first half of 2023,
Following the Quarter-end, Kazatomprom announced that it expected its 2024 production to be adjusted due to the challenges related to the availability of sulphuric acid, a critical operating material, as well as delays in completing construction works at the newly developed deposits. The company stated that the exact impact on the Company's operational performance was being assessed and would be detailed in their Q4 2023 Trading Update, expected to be released no later than 1 February 2024. [26]
The EURATOM Supply Agency ("ESA") distributed its Annual Report for 2022 which documents various aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle within the European Union. According to the ESA's survey of the 103 reactors operating in 13 Member Countries as of the end of 2022, future uncovered uranium requirements through 2031 range from a minimum of 51.9 million lb (assuming all current supply agreements are honoured) and a maximum of 87.5 million lb (assuming Russian-sourced agreements are not completed as scheduled). Total uranium inventories held by EU utilities at the end of 2022 approximated 92.8 million lb, a decrease from the aggregate inventories held at the end of 2021 (95.7 million lb). During 2022, the purchases of Russian-origin uranium declined by
On 11 December 2023, the US House of Representatives passed the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act (H.R. 1042). If enacted, the bill would ban Russian uranium imports 90 days after enactment but would allow individual utilities to request a waiver from the US Department of Energy if there are no other viable fuel sources available to support the operation of a specific nuclear reactor or nuclear company. A companion bill (S. 763) must now be passed by the US Senate before the legislation can be signed into law by President Biden. [28]
Nuclear Power Forecasts
The International Atomic Energy Agency ("IAEA") released its latest nuclear power forecast to 2050. The international nuclear regulatory agency now foresees a High Case installed nuclear generating capacity in 2050 of 890 Gwe, an increase over the 2020 forecast of
The International Energy Agency ("IEA") published its latest forecast, "World Energy Outlook 2023." The Net Zero emissions ("NZE") scenario now projects more than a doubling of installed nuclear capacity from the current 417 GWe, increasing to 916 GWe by 2050, up from 871 GWe in the 2022 edition. Large-scale reactors remain the dominant form of nuclear power in all scenarios, including advanced reactor designs, but the development of and growing interest in SMRs increases the potential for nuclear power. [30]
During the World Climate Action Summit of the 28 th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention ("COP28"), more than 20 countries lead by the United States, France, Japan, Republic of Korea, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom, launched the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy. The Declaration "recognises the key role of nuclear energy in achieving global net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and keeping the 1.5-degree goal within reach." [31]
Market Outlook
The global uranium market remains supply constrained. Limited supply from inventories, geo-political issues including the on-going Russia-Ukraine war, announced delays in production ramp-ups coupled with rising uranium demand continues to exert upward pressure on the uranium price which reached US
Net Asset Value
Yellow Cake's estimated net asset value on 31 December 2023 was £7.11 per share or US
| Yellow Cake Estimated Net Asset Value as at 31 December 2023 | ||||
|
| Units |
|
| |
| Investment in Uranium |
|
|
|
|
| Uranium oxide in concentrates ("U 3 O 8 ") | (A) | lb | 20,155,601 |
|
| U 3 O 8 fair value per pound (37) | (B) | US$/lb | 91.00 |
|
| U 3 O 8 fair value | (A) x (B) = (C) | US$ m | 1,834.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Cash and other net current assets/(liabilities) (38) | (D) | US$ m | 132.2 |
|
| Net asset value in US$ m | (C) + (D) = (E) | US$ m | 1,966.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Exchange Rate ( [34] ) | (F) | USD/GBP | 1.2747 |
|
| Net asset value in £ m | (E) / (F) = (G) | £ m | 1,542.6 |
|
| Number of shares in issue less shares held in treasury ( [35] ) | (H) |
| 216,856,447 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Net asset value per share | (G) / (H) | £/share | 7.11 |
|
Yellow Cake's estimated proforma net asset value on 23 January 2024 was £8.40 per share or US
| Yellow Cake Estimated Proforma Net Asset Value as at 23 January 2024 | ||||
|
| Units |
|
| |
| Investment in Uranium |
|
|
|
|
| Uranium oxide in concentrates ("U 3 O 8 ") (37) | (A) | lb | 21,682,318 |
|
| U 3 O 8 fair value per pound (38) | (B) | US$/lb | 105.00 |
|
| U 3 O 8 fair value | (A) x (B) = (C) | US$ m | 2,276.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Cash and other net current assets/(liabilities) ( [38] ) | (D) | US$ m | 32.2 |
|
| Net asset value in US$ m | (C) + (D) = (E) | US$ m | 2,308.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Exchange Rate | (F) | USD/GBP | 1.2681 |
|
| Net asset value in £ m | (E) / (F) = (G) | £ m | 1,820.7 |
|
| Number of shares in issue less shares held in treasury ( [39] ) | (H) |
| 216,856,447 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Net asset value per share | (G) / (H) | £/share | 8.40 |
|
ENQUIRIES:
Yellow Cake plc |
|
|
Andre Liebenberg, CEO | Carole Whittall, CFO |
|
Tel: +44 (0) 153 488 5200 |
|
|
|
|
|
Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker: Canaccord Genuity Limited |
| |
James Asensio | Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor |
|
Ana Ercegovic Tel: +44 (0) 207 523 8000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Joint Broker: Berenberg |
| |
Matthew Armitt | Jennifer Lee |
|
Detlir Elezi |
|
|
Tel: +44 (0) 203 207 7800 |
|
|
|
|
|
Financial Adviser: Bacchus Capital Advisers | ||
Peter Bacchus | Richard Allan | |
Tel: +44 (0) 203 848 1640 |
| |
|
|
|
Communications Adviser: Powerscourt |
|
|
Peter Ogden | Jade Sampayo |
|
Tel: +44 (0) 7793 858 211 |
|
|
ABOUT YELLOW CAKE
Yellow Cake is a London-quoted company, headquartered in Jersey, which offers exposure to the uranium spot price. This is achieved through its strategy of buying and holding physical triuranium octoxide ("U 3 O 8 "). It may also seek to add value through other uranium related activities. Yellow Cake seeks to generate returns for shareholders through the appreciation of the value of its holding of U 3 O 8 and its other uranium related activities in a rising uranium price environment. The business is differentiated from its peers by its ten-year Framework Agreement for the supply of U 3 O 8 with Kazatomprom, the world's largest uranium producer. Yellow Cake currently holds 20.16 million pounds of U 3 O 8 , all of which is held in storage in Canada and France.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained herein are forward looking statements and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the potential returns of the Company and the industry and markets in which the Company will operate, the Directors' beliefs and assumptions made by the Directors. Words such as "expects", "anticipates", "should", "intends", "plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates", "projects", "pipeline", "aims", "may", "targets", "would", "could" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward looking statements and expectations. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or the ability to identify and consummate investments and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, qualify or quantify. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in such forward looking statements or expectations. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are: uranium price volatility, difficulty in sourcing opportunities to buy or sell U 3 O 8 , foreign exchange rates, changes in political and economic conditions, competition from other energy sources, nuclear accident, loss of key personnel or termination of the services agreement with 308 Services Limited, changes in the legal or regulatory environment, insolvency of counterparties to the Company's material contracts or breach of such material contracts by such counterparties. These forward-looking statements speak only as at the date of this announcement. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based unless required to do so by applicable law or the AIM Rules.
[1] Daily spot price published by UxC, LLC on 30 September 2023.
[2] Daily spot price published by UxC, LLC on 29 December 2023.
[3] Daily spot price published by UxC, LLC on 23 January 2024.
[4] Estimated net asset value as at 30 September 2023 of US
[5] Estimated net asset value as at 31 December 2023 of US
[6] Comprises 20.16 million lb of U 3 O 8 held as at 23 January 2024 plus 1.53 million lb of U 3 O 8 which the Company has committed to purchase in June 2024.
[7] Daily spot price published by UxC, LLC on 23 January 2024.
[8] Estimated proforma net asset value per share as at 23 January 2024 is calculated assuming 221,440,730 ordinary shares in issue, less 4,584,283 shares held in treasury, a USD/ GBP exchange rate of 1.2681 and the daily spot price published by UxC, LLC on 23 January 2024. For purposes of estimating proforma net asset value, cash and other current assets and liabilities is calculated US
[9] Ux Weekly; "Ux Price Indicators"; 2 October 2023.
[10] Ux Weekly; "Ux Price Indicators"; 2 January 2024.
[11] World Nuclear News; "Bulgaria to push ahead with two new units at Kozloduy"; 25 October 2023.
[12] World Nuclear News; "JEK2: Larger capacity considered, Westinghouse, EDF, KHNP in running"; 12 October 2023.
[13] World Nuclear News; "Swedish nuclear: Government moves to change law"; 5 October 2023.
[14] World Nuclear News; "TVO eyes extended, expanded use if Olkiluoto units"; 10 October 2023.
[15] World Nuclear News; "SMR power plant proposed in Norway"; 3 November 2023.
[16] World Nuclear News; "Sri Lankan government has plans for nuclear, minister says"; 21 November 2023.
[17] World Nuclear News; "Nuclear accord signed between USA and Philippines"; 17 November 2023.
[18] World Nuclear News; "MEPs fully include nuclear in Net-Zero Industry Act"; 22 November 2023.
[19] The Hindu; "India, Russia ink pacts on construction of future power units of Kudankulam nuclear plant"; 27 December 2023.
[20] World Nuclear News; "Grid connection for second Shin Hanul unit"; 2 January 2024.
[21] World Nuclear News; "NRA lifts ban on Kashiwazaki-Kariwa fuel activities"; 2 January 2024.
[22] Boss Energy Press Announcement; "Boss achieves significant milestone with commencement of mining operations on Honeymoon"; 11 October 2023.
[23] Orano Press Announcement; "Board of Directors of Orano approves project to extend the enrichment capacity of the Georges Bess 2 plant"; 19 October 2023.
[24] Cameco Press Release; "Cameco and Brookfield Acquisition of Westinghouse Electric Company Creating a Powerful Platform for Strategic Growth"; 7 November 2023.
[25] Kazatomprom Press Release; "Kazatomprom 3Q23 Operations and Trading Update"; 1 November 2023.
[26] Kazatomprom Press Release; "Kazatomprom expects adjustments to its 2024 Production Plans"; 12 January 2024.
[27] Euratom Supply Agency; "Annual Report 2022"; 13 October 2023.
[28] H.R. 1042 - 118th Congress (2023-2024); 11 December 2023.
[29] IAEA Press Announcement; "IAEA Annual Projections Rise Again as Countries Turn to Nuclear for Energy Security and Climate action"; 9 October 2023.
[30] International Energy Agency; "World Energy Outlook 2023"; 26 October 2023.
[31] U.S. Department of State; "At COP28, Countries Launch Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy Capacity by 2050, recognizing the Key role of Nuclear Energy in Reaching Net Zero"; 1 December 2023.
[32] Daily spot price published by UxC, LLC on 29 December 2023.
[33] Cash and cash equivalents and other net current assets and liabilities as at 31 December 2023.
[34] Bank of England's daily USD/ GBP exchange rate as at 29 December 2023.
[35] Estimated net asset value per share on 31 December 2023 is calculated assuming 221,440,730 ordinary shares in issue less 4,584,283 shares held in treasury on that date.
[36] Comprises 20.16 million lb of U 3 O 8 held as at 23 January 2024 plus 1.53 million lb of U 3 O 8 which the Company has committed to purchase in June 2024.
[37] Daily spot price published by UxC, LLC on 23 January 2024.
[38] Cash and other current assets and liabilities of US
[39] Estimated proforma net asset value per share on 23 January 2024 is calculated assuming 221,440,730 ordinary shares in issue, less 4,584,283 shares held in treasury on that date.
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com .
SOURCE: Yellow Cake PLC
View the original press release on accesswire.com
FAQ
What was the percentage increase in the uranium spot price from 30 September 2023 to 31 December 2023?
What was Yellow Cake's estimated net asset value per share as at 31 December 2023?
What was Yellow Cake's estimated proforma net asset value on 23 January 2024?
