Eagle Nuclear Energy Corp. has started a programme of permitting and environmental survey work at its Aurora Uranium Project on the Oregon–Nevada border, ahead of a planned 27,000ft pre-feasibility study (PFS) drilling campaign.
The company said the work will gather data across areas including hydrology, hydrogeology, water quality, ecology, geochemistry, meteorology and cultural heritage. The information is expected to inform environmental impact assessments, mine design optimisation and future permitting.
Vishal Gupta, vice-president of operations at Eagle Nuclear Energy, said initiating the programme marks “an important milestone” in advancing Aurora towards a PFS. He added that the studies will generate “critical environmental data” to support regulatory processes and project planning.
Through its permitting manager, SLR International Corporation, Eagle has begun permitting and procurement for a 10m meteorological station, expected to be installed by early June. The station will collect data on wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure and solar radiation, supporting air quality assessments and permitting requirements.
SLR has also started delineating wetlands and other jurisdictional aquatic resources in areas targeted for drilling. Field teams will map water features and assess ecological and hydrological characteristics, with the results intended to guide project design and support compliance with federal and state regulators, including the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Oregon Department of State Lands.
Eagle has engaged Native-X, Inc. to carry out cultural and archaeological surveys across the project area. The company said the work will identify historical properties and cultural resources, supporting engagement with relevant agencies and Tribal Nations and informing mitigation and permitting strategies.
According to GlobalData, global uranium production is estimated to have increased by 6.1% to 63.9kt in 2025, with further growth to 70.4kt expected in 2026. The report indicates that expansion is being led by Kazakhstan and the US, alongside Canada and Namibia, reflecting renewed demand linked to nuclear power’s role in low-carbon energy systems.
The report, Global Uranium Mining to 2035, also forecasts uranium output to grow at a 5.8% compound annual rate to 116.4kt by 2035, supported by a pipeline of projects across jurisdictions including the US, Canada and Australia. The firm noted that long-term uranium prices strengthened through 2025, reaching a 14-year high of $86.50/lb, with further upward pressure expected as government investment, supply constraints and rising electricity demand support the sector.
Eagle Nuclear Energy said it is in discussions with additional consultants to undertake further work covering hydrology, hydrogeology, water quality, flora and fauna and geochemistry, with most activities expected to begin before or during the planned summer drilling programme.
Aurora forms part of Eagle’s strategy to combine domestic uranium resources with small modular reactor (SMR) technology, with the company stating the project could contribute to US nuclear fuel supply.
