Congress Funds Establishment of National Uranium Reserve and Codifies Protections of the Recently Extended Russian Suspension Agreement
News Release
10758 W. Centennial Rd. Suite 200
Littleton, CO 80127
Phone: 720.981.4588
Fax: 720.981.5643
www.ur-energy.com
Congress Funds Establishment of National Uranium Reserve
and
Codifies Protections of the Recently Extended Russian Suspension Agreement
Littleton, Colorado (ACCESSWIRE – December 22, 2020) Ur-Energy Inc. (NYSE American:URG)(TSX:URE)
(the “Company” or “Ur-Energy”) is pleased to announce that initial funding for the creation of a national
uranium reserve has been approved by Congress as a part of the consolidated appropriations bill and is
expected to be signed into law by the President.
With passage of the “Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act , 2021,”
the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”), National Nuclear Security Administration, will be provided
$75,000,000 and is directed to coordinate with and support the Office of Nuclear Energy in the
development and implementation of a national uranium reserve program. Further, DOE is directed to
submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress within 30 days a plan for the
proposed establishment of a uranium reserve. The plan shall include the legal authorities which are in
place or required to
• establish and operate a uranium reserve, including the purchase, conversion, and sale
of uranium;
• a ten-year implementation plan of the activities for establishment and operations of
a uranium reserve; and
• a ten-year cost estimate.
The plan will also include recommendations to consolidate this program with other existing uranium
management activities within DOE to create efficiencies. Additionally, within the appropriations bill, the
“Energy Act of 2020” includes an “Extension and Expansion of Li mitations on Importation of Uranium
from the Russian Federation, ” which provides protections effectively codifying the recently extended
Russian Suspension Agreement. This offers additional legal protection against Russian imports flooding
the U.S. uranium market.
Funding for the establishment of a national uranium reserve is the first significant act to implement the
recommendations of the United States Nuclear Fuel Working Group (“Working Group”) which released
its report earlier this year. The Working Group Report detailed steps required to revitalize the domestic
uranium mining and broader nuclear industries, to safeguard American energy and national security. As
the Report concluded, “ [t]he clear outcome of the Working Group’s effort is confirmation that it is in
[our] national security interests to preserve the assets and investments of the entire U.S. nuclear
enterprise and to revitalize the sector to regain U.S. global nuclear leadership.”
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Given the Administration’s stated priority of preserving existing assets of U.S. nuclear infrastructure, we
believe government funding of uranium purchases will be directed toward established production
companies with permitted physical infrastructure and proven production operations . Our Lost Creek
Mine, utilizing classic in situ recovery technology, immediately satisfies these criteria since the mine and
full processing plant are constructed and operations have been continuous since August 2013.
Additionally, significant NI 43-101 compliant measured and indicated uranium resources are defined at
the Lost Creek Property, providing for a mine life well into the future.
With future development and construction in mind, our current staff represent the greatest level of
experience and adaptability allowing for an easier ramp -up to full operations. While Lost Creek’s
production rate has been controlled at reduced rates in recent years in recognition of market conditions,
Lost Creek can increase to full production rates in as little as six months, simply through the development
of additional header houses within its operational first and second mine units.
Nearly all development expenses during this time are related to drilling and header house construction
costs and are estimated to be approximately $14 million. After initial development expenditures,
revenues from new appropriately priced contracts should cover further development activit y. We also
have substantial finished, ready -to-sell U3O8 inventory that can be sold into government contracts
anticipated under a Uranium Reserve Program to further support production ramp -up. The Lost Creek
plant has been routinely maintained to be fully ready to receive additional flows for increased production
when warranted. This operating strategy will allow Lost Creek to control development and production
costs, maximize cash flows and maintain operational flexibility to respond to market conditions.
Funding of the Uranium Reserve, as recommended by the Working Group and passed with bipartisan
support in Congress, is a critical step toward preserving existing infrastructure in the nuclear fuel cycle.
The next, equally important step will be the passage of the American Nuclear Infrastructure Act (“ANIA”)
which will authorize the U.S. Department of Energy to establish the Uranium Reserve Program and begin
making purchases from U.S. uranium miners. The program will assist to reduce the nation’s overreliance
on Russian and Kazakh nuclear fuel products. ANIA’s co-sponsor, Senator John Barrasso, has said the
ANIA “will strengthen both America’s energy and national security. . .. In the face of Russian and Chinese
aggression, it’s critical we remain the world’s leading developer of nuclear energy technology. This
bipartisan legislation gets that done. . . . This bill creates a national uranium reserve, so we always have
access to American fuel to power American nuclear plants.” Like the passage of the Uranium Reserve
funding, ANIA has also received bipartisan support, as it passed out of the Senate Environment and Public
Works Committee progressing to further Congressional consideration.
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, packaged, and shipped more than 2.6 million pounds from
Lost Creek since the commencement of operations. Applicatio ns are under review by various agencies
to incorporate our LC East project area into the Lost Creek permits and to operate at our Shirley Basin
Project. 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. Shares of Ur -Energy trade on the NYSE American under the symbol “URG” and on the Toronto
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Stock Exchange under the symbol “URE.” Ur -Energy’s corporate office is in L ittleton, Colorado; its
registered office is in Ottawa, Ontario. Ur-Energy’s website is www.ur-energy.com.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
Jeffrey Klenda, Chair & CEO
866-981-4588
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., whether the President will sign the
appropriations bill as expected; t he specifics of the DOE plan for uranium purchases, the program by
which such contracts will be made and on what timing, the ten- year plan, and other provisions , as
required in the Act; w hether ANIA is enacted into law to establish the uranium reserve and what is
included in its final provisions; how the allocation of contracts and funds for the reserve will be
determined and on what timeframe; o ur ability to readily and cost -effectively ramp -up production
operations at Lost Creek when conditions warrant; the viability of the additional mining areas at Lost
Creek; timing and results of implementation of other recommendations from the Working Group) 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.) 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.sedar.com 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 i n the
future.