Honeymoon redevelopment work progresses

Construction of the three startup wellfields at Honeymoon has been completed, the Perth-based company said. This comprises 86 drilled and cased new production wells and 31 recompletions of existing wells, it noted.

Pressure testing and line flushing of the first wellfield has been completed and the 3-kilometre liquid disposal line and associated pumps and instrumentation have been commissioned. The next stage, Boss said, is to run structured pumping tests to ensure the pump setpoints are correct, and that the wells are hydraulically connected to one another in the orebody.

"This will pave the way to start wellfield flushing and commissioning," the company said.

Ground water extraction and construction of the new raw water system is also on target to begin delivering to the processing plant in the coming weeks. The necessary reagent areas are in the final stages of preparation for receiving their first fill.

"All significant procurement items have been delivered and installed, raw water supply and liquid disposal lines (180mm poly pipe of approximately 5800 metres) have been welded, completed and ready for use," Boss said.

Installation of lining material for the 25,000-tonne gypsum pond is nearing completion for full operational use, while the 250 cubic metre per hour reverse osmosis (RO) plant mechanicals are installed, with electrical and final piping nearing completion. The RO plant consists of six containers of filters, pumps and reverse osmosis tubes with associated chemical dosing systems.

"The project development is proceeding to plan and remains on time and on budget as we move towards the restart of Honeymoon," said Boss Managing Director Duncan Craib. "Our timing is looking ideal, with the uranium market continuing to tighten and the spot price moving up."

ISL operations began at Honeymoon in 2011, but the mine was put on care-and-maintenance in 2013 by its then-owner Uranium One. Boss acquired the project in 2015. The project is considered one of the world's most advanced uranium development projects that can be fast-tracked to resume production.

In June 2022, the board of Boss Energy approved the final investment decision for the development of the Honeymoon project.

Honeymoon is expected to produce 2.45 million pounds U3O8 per year over an 11-year mine life.