Arrow

Arrow

The Rook I Project - host of the Arrow Deposit - is the largest development-stage uranium project in Canada and is 100% owned by NexGen Energy Ltd.

Centred around the land-based, basement-hosted Arrow Deposit – one of the world’s leading resources – the Project maintains a robust economic profile and is being developed with elite ESG commitments focused on environmental protection and maximizing community benefit through a partnership approach.

The Deposit is 100% owned by NexGen Energy Ltd., and the Project will be developed and operated by NexGen.

Aerial graphic image identifying South Arrow, Arrow, Bow and Harpoon, along the Patterson Corridor

Feasibility Study (FS):

On February 17, 2021, NexGen released its independent Feasibility Study (FS) of the Rook I Project. The FS was completed in accordance with NI 43-101 and includes joint work by leading consultants including: Stantec Consulting Limited, Wood Canada Ltd., and Roscoe Postle Associates Inc., with other technical inputs completed by sub-consultants.

Summary of the Feasibility Study Highlights:

The FS considers the environmental and economic merits from the Arrow Deposit and places the Project as one of the leading global resource projects with an elite ESG profile.

The Arrow Deposit’s unique geological profile and location allows for key optimizations development. The Project is designed as an underground mining operation, with conventional long hole stope mining methods.

The economic base case was developed encompassing a fixed price of US $50/lb U3O8:

Table 1 – Outstanding Economics Summary of Arrow Deposit Feasibility Study (based on US $50/lb U3O8)

  FS($CAD)
After-Tax NPV @ 8% $3.47 Billion
After-Tax Internal Rate of Return (IRR) 52.4%
After-Tax Payback 0.9 Year
Pre-Commitment Early Works Captial $157 Million
Project Execution Captial $1.143 Million
Total Initial Captial Costs ("CAPEX") $1,300 Million
Average Annual Production (Years 1-5) 28.8M lbs U3O8
Average Annual After-Tax Net Cash Flow (Life of Mine) 763 Million
Nominal Mill Capacity 1,300 tonnes per day
Average Annual Mill Feed Grade 2.37% U3O8
Mine Life 10.7 Years
Average Annual Operating Cost ("OPEX", Life of Mine) $7.58
(US $5.69)/lb U3O8
  1. The economic analysis was based on the timing of a final investment decision (“FID”) and does not include the Pre-Commitment Early Works Capital, which are costs NexGen intends on expending prior to the FID.  Pre-Commitment Early Works scope includes site preparation, initial freeze hole drilling and the supporting infrastructure (concrete batch plant, Phase I camp accommodations and bulk fuel storage) required to support full Project Execution Capital.
  2. FS based on CAD $1.00 = US $0.75 and US $50/lb U3O8 price.

NPV and IRR Sensitivity to Uranium Price, table 2:

Uranium Price ($ USD/lb U3O8 ) After-Tax NPV8 After-Tax IRR
$65/lb U3O8 CAD $4.87 Billion 62.8%
$60/lb U3O8 CAD $4.40 Billion 59.5%
$55/lb U3O8 CAD $3.93 Billion 56.1%
$50/lb U3O8 (Base Case) CAD $3.47 Billion 52.4%
$45/lb U3O8 CAD $3.00 Billion 48.4%
$40/lb U3O8 CAD $2.53 Billion 44.0%

Arrow Mineral Resource Estimate, Table 3:

FS Mineral Resource
Structure Tonnage
(k tonnes)
Grade (U3O8%) Contained Metal (U3O8 M lb)
Measured
A2 LG 920 0.79 16.0
A2 HG 441 16.65 161.9
A3 LG 821 1.75 31.7
Total: 2,183 4.35 209.6
Indicated
A2 LG 700 0.79 12.2
A2 HG 56 9.92 12.3
A3 LG 815 1.26 22.7
Total: 1,572 1.36 47.1
Measured and Indicated
A2 LG 1,620 0.79 28.1
A2 HG 497 15.9 174.2
A3 LG 1,637 1.51 54.4
Total: 3,754 3.1 256.7
Inferred
A1 LG 1,557 0.69 23.7
A2 LG 863 0.61 11.5
A2 HG 3 10.95 0.6
A3 LG 1,207 1.12 29.8
A4 LG 769 0.89 15.0
Total: 4,399 0.83 80.7
  1. CIM Definition Standards were followed for Mineral Resources, Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of Mineral Reserves.
  2. Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.25% U3O8 based on a long-term price of US$50 per lb U3O8 and estimated costs.
  3. A minimum mining width of 1.0 m was used
  4. The effective date of Mineral Resources is June 19th, 2019
  5. Numbers may not add due to rounding.
  6. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economics.

RPA is not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-economic, marketing, political, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the Mineral Resource Estimate.

Arrow Mineral Resource Estimate, Table 3:

  1. CIM definitions were followed for Mineral Reserves.
  2. Mineral Reserves are reported with an effective date of January 21st, 2021.
  3. Mineral Reserves include transverse and longitudinal stopes, ore development, marginal ore, special waste and a nominal amount of waste required for mill ramp-up and grade control.
  4. Stopes were estimated at a cut-off grade of 0.30% U3O8
  5. Marginal ore is material between 0.26% U3O8 and 0.30% U3O8 that must be extracted to access mining areas. 
  6. Special waste in material between 0.03% and 0.26% U3O8 that must be extracted to access mining areas. 0.03% U3O8 is the limit for what is considered benign waste and material that must be treated and stockpiled in an engineered facility.
  7. Mineral Reserves are estimated using a long-term metal price of US$50 per pound U3O8, and a 0.75 US$/C$ exchange rate (C$1.00 = US$0.75).  The cost to ship the yellow cake product to a refinery is considered to be included in the metal price.
  8. A minimum mining width of 3.0 m was applied for all long hole stopes.
  9. Mineral Reserves are estimated using a combined underground mining recovery of 95.5% and total dilution (planned and unplanned) of 33.8%.
  10. The density varies according to the U3O8 grade in the block model.  Waste density is 2.464 t/m3
  11. Numbers may not add due to rounding.

Stantec is not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-economic, marketing, political, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the Mineral Reserve Estimate.

Mine Plan and Production Profile:

A detailed mine plan based on conventional long-hole stope mining was engineered using Mineral Reserves only.

During the development of the Feasibility Study, geotechnical studies conducted again supported the conventional long hole stoping mining method, including the use of longitudinal and transverse stopes, 30m level spacing, and the nominal stop strike length of 12 metres to 24 metres.

Figure 1 – Cross Section View of FS Mine Design (Looking Northeast)

A cross section view of the Feasibility Mine Design showcasing the surface, followed by sedimentary rocks,, followed by basement rock, followed by an image of the proposed Under Ground Tailings Management Facility next to the measured and indicated mineral resources.

Figure 2 – Arrow Deposit Production Profile

A graph that shows the production profile and mill feed grade over the span of an 11 year mine-life

Figure 3 – Rook I Feasibility Site Layout

Graphic aerial visual of the Rook I site by individual buildings including Camp buildings, LNG Plant and Storage, with Settling Ponds and 2 Run-Off Ponds at the perimeter of the site. Offices can be seen between LNG Storage and Fuel Storage. Centrally located is the shop, ETP, SX Plant, Acid Plant and Mill. Next to the Mill is the Ore Stockpile, Special Waste with the NPAG Stockpile and the PAG Stockpile next to the Special Waste. A second cluster of buildings showcase a Production Shaft, Hoist Building, Fire Water Tank and Exhaust Shaft.