Uranium Energy Corp has received approval from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to expand in situ recovery operations at Christensen Ranch in Johnson County, Wyo.
In situ recovery is one of the two primary extraction methods used to mine uranium from the underground.
The Corpus Christi, Texas-based uranium mining company said in its Monday press release it has commenced operating the three additional header houses in wellfield 11 at the Christensen Ranch. Header houses are small surface-level structures located in the wellfield that control the flow of solutions to and from other wells.
The new three header houses and sustained wellfield development at Christensen Ranch is expected to bring increased production capacity at the company’s Wyoming mine, Uranium Energy Corp said.
Uranium Energy Corp restarted operations at Christensen Ranch in situ recovery operations in August 2024. The recovered uranium is processed at the Irigaray Central Processing Plant, which serves as the hub for 11 Uranium Energy Corp projects across the Powder River Basin.
DEQ led the regulatory approval for the Uranium Energy Corp’s expansion. Uranium Energy Corp said it is still awaiting approval for an additional header house and three more are under construction in wellfield 12 and 10-extension.
Along with its state regulatory approval, Uranium Energy Corp also announced it received a docket number from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for its subsidiary’s proposed uranium conversion facility on March 18.
The docket number comes after the company submitted a letter of intent to pursue a license. Uranium Energy Corp.’s subsidiary, Uranium Refining and Conversion Corp, plans to submit its license application once engineering and design work, conducted by Fluor, is finished, and a site is selected.
Uranium Energy Corp. said that several locations across various states have been under consideration. Workforce and highway, rail and port logistics will be factors in its site selection process, the company said.