en.Wedoany.com Reported - Australian uranium developer Alligator Energy has unveiled the next phase of growth plans for the Samphire uranium project in South Australia, including resource expansion, feasibility studies, and drilling programs, paving the way for production around 2030.

According to the company's latest investor presentation, after incorporating the Plumbush deposit into the resource estimate, the Samphire project's mineral resources have increased by 67% to 30 million pounds of uranium oxide. The current resource base comprises 18 million pounds of uranium oxide from the Blackbush deposit and 12 million pounds from the Plumbush deposit, with Alligator planning to drive further resource growth through ongoing drilling.

A key recent milestone for the project was the Field Recovery Test (FRT) completed in June. The company stated that the test met or exceeded industry benchmarks and prior forecasts, achieving a 70% uranium recovery benchmark across 70 pore volumes, with uranium grades and flow rates both above peer averages. These results will provide critical input data for the project's feasibility study and mining lease application, with the feasibility study scheduled for completion by mid-2027.

The company is currently advancing an accelerated drilling campaign aimed at increasing mineral resources, extending the southern boundary of the Blackbush deposit, and upgrading portions of the Plumbush deposit's inferred resources to higher confidence categories. As planned, approximately 300 drill holes will be completed by the end of November 2027, with recent drilling having extended the uranium mineralization zone 600 meters south of Blackbush.

The Samphire project is located approximately 20 meters from Whyalla in South Australia. Alligator noted that the region's existing infrastructure, local workforce, and favorable environmental conditions for uranium operations are key advantages for project development.

The company's 2023 scoping study outlined a production plan of 1.2 million pounds of uranium oxide per year, with a post-tax net present value of $257 million and an internal rate of return of 42%, based on a long-term uranium price assumption of $75 per pound.

In addition to the Samphire project, Alligator continues to explore the Big Lake uranium project in the Cooper Basin to assess whether a larger uranium district exists in the area.

Alligator stated that the combination of multiple advancements—resource growth, successful recovery tests, and ongoing exploration—provides several opportunities to achieve its goal of becoming Australia's next uranium producer.