Boss Energy expands execution strategy for Honeymoon uranium project re-start
Boss has appointed key personnel to ensure wellfield development and construction activities can start as soon as a final investment decision is made.
Aspiring producer Boss Energy (ASX: BOE) has confirmed it will expand preliminary project execution strategies for the re-start of its Honeymoon uranium venture in South Australia.
On the back of an enhanced feasibility study released last month, the company will advance planned activities in production schedule optimisation, equipment selection and contract and procurement negotiation.
Preferred vendors are completing equipment design for long lead items, as priority work steams ahead of a final investment decision.
New appointments
Boss’ process plant management team has been strengthened in recent weeks to focus on key packages along the four critical paths of engineering and procurement, water treatment plant design, wellfield planning and development, and concrete and structural steel works.
New appointees Ben Jeuken (general manager wellfield and resources) and Jason Cherry (geology manager) have been brought in to provide more focus on resource and wellfield development.
Mr Jeuken is experienced in the practical management of groundwater for mining projects specifically in-situ recovery uranium mining, which is the preferred and most cost-effective extraction process for the Honeymoon resource.
He has worked for neighbouring ISR uranium producer Heathgate Resources, which owns and operates the Beverley and Beverley North mines 260km west of Honeymoon.
He has also acted as a consultant to the International Atomic Energy Agency regarding the development of uranium mining groundwater remediation guidelines.
Mr Cherry has 17 years of experience in uranium mining, several of which have been spent on the Honeymoon project where he has been involved in the discovery of new resources including the Jasons and Goulds Dam satellite deposits.
He has worked in mineral exploration and management roles with uranium companies Vimy Resources (ASX: VMY) and Toro Energy (ASX: TOE).
At Boss, Mr Jeuken and Mr Cherry join process manager Trevor Robinson, NIMCIX specialist Merrill Ford and structural engineer Jeremy Green to help advance Honeymoon through to the next phase of project execution and development.
Consolidated approach
Boss managing director Duncan Craib said the new appointments will consolidate the company’s approach to re-starting Honeymoon, which was mothballed in 2013 because it had become too expensive to run.
“We have moved quickly to appoint key personnel to deliver a detailed project execution plan to ensure wellfield development and construction activities on the restart can commence as soon as a final investment decision is made,” he said.
“Now that we have much of the required expertise in-house, we will be working on key milestones over the coming months in preparation for the project’s delivery.”
The Honeymoon project comprises a fully permitted uranium mine with $170 million of established infrastructure including a plant under care and maintenance that had previously produced and exported uranium.
Mr Craib said Boss is well positioned to become a “first mover” uranium producer and take advantage of the new uranium cycle where tight supply and higher prices are anticipated.