Alligator Energy Surpasses Uranium Recovery Targets at Samphire ISR Trial

Breakthrough Uranium Recovery at Samphire

Alligator Energy Ltd (ASX:AGE) has hit a significant milestone in its Samphire Uranium Project Field Recovery Trial, extracting uranium at a 70% recovery rate over roughly 70 pore volume exchanges. This performance not only meets the company's ambitious target but also validates the in-situ recovery (ISR) methodology underpinning the project’s economics. The standout flow rates of over 5 litres per second from the extractor well far exceed typical global ISR benchmarks of 0.5 to 3 L/s, thanks to the favourable permeability of the Samphire palaeochannel system.

The trial’s uranium-bearing solution grades averaged 115 mg/L U₃O₈, sitting at the upper end of the 70–120 mg/L range observed worldwide. This surpasses the assumptions laid out in Alligator's December 2023 Scoping Study and compares favourably against other ISR operations like South Australia’s ISR projects and US alkaline systems. The high grades combined with strong flow rates bode well for processing throughput and downstream recovery efficiency.

Operational Stability and Efficient Processing

Hydraulic performance remained stable throughout the trial with no material deviations in flow distribution or water balance, a critical factor in ensuring lixiviant containment within the mineralised zone. While the pilot plant limited the extractor well to around 2.8 L/s during testing, pump tests confirmed capacity above 5 L/s, suggesting that full-scale operations could reduce the number of wells needed to meet production targets. This builds on earlier operational insights, such as those reported when uranium extraction commenced, which showed promising initial recovery rates and operational stability strong initial trial results.

On the processing front, the ion exchange system demonstrated a 98% uranium adsorption efficiency using a chloride-tolerant resin, overcoming potential challenges from elevated chloride concentrations in groundwater. The elution process was straightforward, employing a simple reagent mix, with upcoming lab work aimed at optimising reagent consumption to reduce operating costs. Reagent usage during the trial aligned with internationally recognised “highly favourable” benchmarks, consuming about 20 kg of sulfuric acid per tonne of ore, reflecting efficient leaching and minimal losses.

Next Phase to Test Lower Grade Zones

With the first well pattern successfully completed, Alligator Energy is set to initiate a second well pattern targeting lower grade and less permeable areas at the margins of the mineralised system. This next phase, expected to deliver results in the third quarter of 2026, will provide critical data on the variability of hydrogeological and recovery characteristics across the deposit. The company anticipates lower flow rates and longer recovery times in this zone, underscoring the importance of this step in refining wellfield design and BFS inputs. The ongoing Field Recovery Trial program continues to build on earlier operational data that validated key assumptions from the December 2023 Scoping Study recovery and operational performance.

CEO Andrea Marsland-Smith highlighted the significance of these results as a major derisking milestone, emphasizing the alignment with model assumptions and global ISR benchmarks. The data generated will refine predictive models, optimise wellfield strategies, and inform processing plant design, supporting the pathway towards project development.