Alligator Energy has secured final approval to proceed with the in-situ Field Recovery Trial (FRT) at the Samphire Uranium Project, located near Whyalla in South Australia.
The FRT will include the establishment of three well-field patterns and the placement and construction of a containerised pilot processing plant, with equipment already present at Alligator’s Whyalla yard.
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The construction contract has been awarded to the Whyalla-based Ahrens Group, which will handle civil works and installation of the pilot plant, reverse osmosis (RO) plant, operations and laboratory units, and associated tanks and pipework.
Watsons Drilling, Alligator’s drilling contractor, is also gearing up to begin production well drilling.
Ahrens Group will draw on local sub-contractors for specialised tasks, with a mobilisation period ranging from two to six weeks for key staff and contractors.
The construction schedule anticipates completion of all work packages within an eight-week period, excluding potential extensions due to factors such as weather or unforeseen conditions, followed by a three to four-week commissioning phase.
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By GlobalDataThe FRT operations will span three to four months, featuring sequential testing of well rings, with inline analysis and on-site lab testing to evaluate results promptly.
After the FRT operations and any additional testwork, the pilot plant and wellfields will be dismantled, and the area will undergo rehabilitation.
Alligator CEO Andrea Marsland-Smith said: “This approval marks a pivotal milestone in progressing the Samphire Project toward its next phase of development. The commencement of the trial represents the culmination of 3 years working with DEM and co-agencies, rigorous technical design, testing and collaboration with technology and engineering partners.
“It will allow us to validate ISR performance in real-world conditions, gather critical information as backbone to a Definitive Feasibility Study and future mining lease approval.”
The FRT will assess areas within the Blackbush deposit mineral resource estimate (MRE) announced in May 2025.
This includes a total MRE of 18.0 million pounds (14.2 million pounds indicated, 3.8 million pounds inferred) at an average grade of 676ppm U3O8.
This MRE comprises 78% indicated resource, which is ready for wellfield design work during the Feasibility Study.
