enCore Energy has announced approval for the Upper Spring Creek in situ recovery (ISR) uranium project in the south of the US state of Texas from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), under the existing radioactive materials licence (RML).
The Upper Spring Creek ISR project spans several potential production units within the historic Clay West uranium district.
The RML extension covers the Upper Spring Creek project’s Brown Area, enabling enCore to handle radioactive materials, including uranium (U3O8).
The licence also allows for the construction of wellfields and a satellite ion exchange (IX) plant, which will serve the Rosita ISR uranium central processing plant (CPP).
These satellite IX plants are designed to be modular and relocatable, enhancing the efficiency of uranium extraction across multiple sites.
Scheduled for renewal in 2032, the RML stipulates strict safety, material handling, record-keeping and reporting protocols to ensure compliance.
enCore Energy executive chairman William M Sheriff stated: “The receipt of the RML, allowing enCore to build its next remote satellite ion exchange plant and wellfield in a timely manner from application, is a testament to the efficiency of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The ability to operate and issue these critical permits under the authority of being an Agreement State in conjunction with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission is a clear competitive advantage for enCore.
“This is our third permitted facility in Texas, with each of our preceding permits having been granted in 20 months or less. The Upper Spring Creek project brings important uranium mineralisation into the operations of the company, and we look forward to recovering (capturing) increasing amounts of uranium from late this year into 2026.”
enCore has initiated the advancement of the project, moving drill rigs to the site to develop the production wellfield.
The company had previously staged equipment in anticipation of this approval. The upcoming construction activities will include surface preparation, well construction, road construction and the installation of support facilities and utilities.
The satellite IX plant concrete pad will begin construction within 30 days of the issue of the licence.
enCore now holds two RMLs in Texas: the amended RML for the Upper Spring Creek’s Brown Area in Rosita, and the Kingsville project areas.
enCore Energy recently announced the start-up of a second ion exchange (IX) circuit at the Alta Mesa ISR uranium central processing plant in South Texas, doubling the plant’s total flow capacity and enhancing its uranium extraction capabilities.
