Construction begins at Nichols Ranch

Friday, 5 August 2011 On-site construction has begun at the Nichols Ranch uranium project in Wyoming's Central Powder River Basin, Uranerz Energy has announced. Construction activities at the in-situ recovery project will encompass two main functions: building a central processing plant including office, laboratory and maintenance buildings; and installation of the first well-fields. Site preparation for the processing plant is now under way and drilling rigs for installing the wells are due to start operations within the week. The project, which could produce up to 770 tonnes of uranium per year, received the final licence needed for construction and operation to begin from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission on 20 July. Uranerz general manager Glenda Thomas said the company is now focused on achieving commercial production "as soon as possible."